Prayers for the sick chamber

NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES

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P K A Y E R S

THE SICK CHAMBER

Is any afflicted, let him pray.'

•

Lord, teach us to pray.

The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not

vhat we should pray for as we ought ; l^t the Spirit itself

maketh intercession for us with groaniiigs which cannot b'j

uttered.

And He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the

mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the

Saints according to the will of God.

PRAYERS

FOR

THE SICK CHAMBER

STRAHAN AND CO., PUBLISHERS139 GRAND STREET, NEW YORK

1867

475(>2SA8T0R, LENOX AM

TILOEN FOUNDATIONS1909

TO

ALL THE SICK AND DYING,

TO THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNED ONLY THETRIALS OF SICKNESS.

TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALSO TASTED OF THEBLESSINGS OF SICKNESS.

THIS LITTLE BOOK

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED,

IN THE EARNEST HOPE

THAT IT MAY LEAD THEM YET MORE TO THE ONLY

BOOK

IN WHICH "every word IS PURE,"

AND WHICH CAN ALONE STRENGTHEN,

AND SOOTHE, AND COMFORT,

IN LONG SICKNESS,

AND IN THE DYING HOUR.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

A Few Words about the Difficulties of Prayer in Sick-

ness and in Weakness 1

PAET I.—FOR THE SICK.

PRAYERS.

For the Morning 2Y

For the Evening . . 31

For Midnight 34

For Repentance 87

For Sorrow for Sin 38

For Forgiveness of Sin 40

For Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ . . . .41For Patience 44

For Contentment 46

*For calmness of Mind 49

For Humility • . . 51

For Rest in God in Weakness 53

For those in Pain 55

*ror those in Infirmities which humiliate . . .57

VI CONTENTS.

PAGE

For those suflfering from Hunger 60

For those suffering from Thirst 62

For those in Poverty....... 66

For those in Loneliness 69

*For those in confirmed long Illness . . . .71*For those in uncertainty as to the Length and Termina-

tion of Illness 74

*For those in prospect of an inactive Life ; agamst Impa-

tience and Self-will 76

*For help in DeUrium 79

For help in Restlessness 81

*For those in prospect of an Operation . . . .84For those in great Weakness 86

For those in great Weakness and inability to Pray . 88

For those in great Sickness 91

For those in sore Trouble 93

For those who are very III 95

For those who have given way to Irritability . . 97

For those who are walking in Darkness . . .99For those who have forgotten God in time of Health . 101

For the Backslider in heart 104

For those who fear they have been deceived . .107

For those who are suffering from Wanderings of Mind

in Weakness 109

For those who feel the Difficulty of Prayer in Weakness 112

For those who have been taken up by the Cares of this

Life, and been over-anxious

*For those who complain of want of Sympathy

*That suffering may not produce Selfishness .

For the Aged ....For one afflicted with Blindness

For one afflicted with Deafhesa .

In wearisome Nights .

On Sundays . . . .

CONTENTS. Vll

*Prayer for a Blessing on the use of Medicine, and other

remedies 133

*That sickness may bring forth its proper Fruits . . 135

To be enabled to give thanks for Suffering . . .13*7

That the purpose of Suffering may be fulfilled in us,

which is to liken us to Christ .... 140

For those who believe that Death is coming near and

desire it, but are told that it is far distant . . 143

For those who are recovering from Sickness, and have

the prospect of returning to active Life . . 147

Before receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper . 151

INTERCESSIONS.

For the Church and Clergy 154

For Friends who are with us, and for those who are

absent, and for Nurses and Attendants . .157*For Medical men 161

THANKSGIVINGS.

*For Friends 164

*For bodily Comforts 166

*For spiritual Consolations 168

*For Sickness 171

*For Sorrow 173

*For our Baptismal Inheritance 176

PART II.—FOR THE DYING.

PRAYERS.

In the prospect of Death 181

For those who have a fear of Death .... 182

Vlll CONTENTS.

PAGE

When Death is very near 185

For those who have a desire to depart, but are willing

to wait the appointed time 187

For those of our Family and Friends who will be left at

our Death 189

About the Resurrection of the Body, and the great

comfort to be derived from it . . . .192

THANKSGIVINGS.

*For Death ... 196

For the Joys of Heaven 198

Verses from Holy Scripture, and Prayers suitable to be

read to dying Persons by their Friends . . 203

TJie Prayers marked thus * were supplied by a sick and

suffering Friend.

FEW WORDS

ABOUT

THE DIFFICULTIES OF PEAYER

IN SICKNESS AND IN WEAKNESS.

MONGST the many trials wWcli

sickness brings, there is one

which seems to be the portion

all who are sick and suffering, how-

ever varied their circumstances. There

are perhaps very few who have been long

ill, and brought into weakness, who do

not find that some of their greatest trials

arise out of their difficulties about prayer.

The more earnest-minded they are, the

more they have set their affections on

things above, the sadder these lets and

hindrances will be to them ; each one

thinks that he " mourns apart ;

" that he

1

2 A FEW WOEDS

albne suffers from this sorrow ; that it is

his own fault and great sin ; and that no

one else can be so troubled by such diffi-

culties, and coldnesses, and hindrances.

But if it is the heritage of all who are

sick and weak, there suiêly must be some

purjDose and meaning in it, and some

remedy for it ; not one indeed which will

bring instant cure, but which the oftener

it is tried, the more sure its effect will be.

Perhaps the mistaken ideas people

commonly have about sickness, is one

cause of this trial ; it is often looked upon

as a state set apart, one in which every

thing is favorable " to the attainment of

everlasting life ; " in which worldly things

assume their true places, and are cast into

the shade, and in which prayer becomes

the chief work of their lives. People in

health often speak to the sick as if it wasthe work given them to do, and which

they could do then as never before ; they

think that the sick have so much time

and so few distractions. How often such

words fall like lead upon the hearts of

ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF PRAYER. 3

the sick, who feel that therein lies their

greatest conflict, their deepest trial ; alas

!

they well know that their distractions are

great, and the time left by sickness and

all its appliances very little, and that

little, how often it is mere endurance—

a

passive state. Their trials are not less

than in the days of health, but they are

altogether different, and when first a long

sickness comes, the change is so great that

the mere getting accustomed to it, seems

work enough, and beyond their strength.

In short, sharp illnesses, there is often a

great deal of enjoyment of spiritual things,

and the time seems to be set apart as a

holy thing, in which to review the past

and prepare again for the battle of life

;

but in long sickness the case is generally

very different, for the mind becomes worn

and weakened by suffering, and sometimes

as the strength fails this trial becomes

greater.

Some of the personal sting of it wouldbe taken away, if we believed it was the

ajDpointed lot of all the sick ; instead of

4 A FEW WOEDS

feeling it a hard, and lonely trial, we should

learn to feel for all our fellow-sufferers,

and in sympatliy with them should lose

ourselves, and the constant dwelling upon

this as a personal and solitary grief.

There must be a meaning and a wise pur-

pose in it ; the God of love would not send

it to all the large family of the sick and

the weak, unless there were a " needs be"

that they should be " in heaviness."

In health, perhaps, even prayer mayhave become too mechanical ; the same

hom's, the same postm-e, the same circum-

stances, and this seemed enough. Sick-

ness and weakness change all this ; the in-

ability to kneel, or to change the posture to

one of devotion, is doubtless a great hin-

drance, and, if it is not watched against,

will be more so ; but as a remedy against

this, some posture may surely be set apart,

even in bed, which may help to recollec-

tion ;carefully avoiding any that might

minister to sleep ; because one of the great

trials about prayer in sickness is, the ten-

dency to drowsiness ; few distresses are


gneater tlian to find how quickly prayer

has ended in sleej), but if it has been

watched against and resisted, it is no sin,

only a trial which is to " humble us and

do us good."

Another cause is the monotony of a sick

life ; the fewness of its variations tell on

the mind by degrees ; sometimes produc-

ing discouragement, at other times in-

difference, or to some people, irritability.

Then the idea that there will not be

interruptions, and that another timewhenwe feel a little stronger will be better for

prayer, is one of the forms of the temj)t-

ation, and is the best resisted by having

stated times for everything. Sick people

greatly need the help of time and seasons;

each one must make the rule for himself,

and the more closely he is able to keep

to it, the better for him. In this, the

habits acquired in days of health will

much affect the days of sickness ; those

who have yielded to desultory habits

in other days^ will find the punishment

now : just as in common things, sick peo-1*

6 A FEW WOEDS

pie will find that if they have not yielded

to indolence in days of health, the diffi-

culty will be far less in sickness of rousing

themselves to exertion, and putting forth

the little strength they have for the com-

mon duties of life, which others give upand let the habits of sickness grow fast

upon them. It is true that the latter re-

ceive more sympathy, and are thought

more ill, and thus they have their reward,

but not the same blessing. So likewise

those who have accustomed themselves to

subdue the outward expression of pain

and suffering, may indeed be often mis-

taken here upon earth, but they spare

their friends much sorrow and pain, and

they have the great blessing of learning,

by that means, to lie still in the hands of

God.

Another of the difficulties about prayer

arises from the irritability of the nerves

;

much of this, doubtless, depends on the

nature of the disease and on the medicines

taken, but in all cases of long sickness

there must be more or less of it. But


this is not sin but suffering ; if it be so

resisted that the outward expression of it

is overcome, it is all that can be looked

for, and " with such sacrifices God is well

pleased." To judge by this would be very

false, for while some diseases and some

remedies may so irritate the nerves, as to

make all continuous thought impossible,

the effect may be just the reverse in manycases, and excited and pleasant feelings

may be produced in prayer. We should

beware of mistaking these for realities, or

of tiiisting to any kind of feelings as tests

of the spiritual state.

One of the greatest trials arising out of

weakness of body, is the impossibility of

fixing the mind steadily on holy things.

Often the pain is very great which is

caused by such efforts, so great as to pre-

vent the very thing which we desire to at-

tain. And then comes the self-reproach

—

and how bitter that is I Because the

mind seems capable only of light and

frivolous thoughts, and will tease and

trouble itself about trifling matters; these

8 A FEW WOEDS

we seem to dwell on ; tliey magnify them-

selves, shaping themselves often, until they

seem to become things of importance. Atother times we feel that they are trifles, yet

they flit before us and seem to constrain

our attention. Perhaps it is something

we may have heard long ago, and then

heeded not ; or something that we think

we never heard ; or some person comes

before our minds, and will not go away ; or

some name teases us that we cannot catch;

or some face that we cannot remember ; or

something too silly almost to tell to our-

selves. Sick people must take into ac-

count, however, that this is not the case

only at their prayers ; it is frequently be-

sides, especially in sleep, when we surely

cannot help it : how what has happened in

the day haunts us then ; how people seem

to stand around our bed and will not go

away. We must not struggle too hard

against this trial ; it is not the wây to

overcome it. The grasp of our minds is

much smaller than in the days of health

;

we must not try to go beyond it ; violent


efforts exhaust the strength and increase

the evil. It is better not to go on too

long in fighting against such thoughts.

To repeat a short Psahn is far better

;

and if we go on repeating the same, it is

less effort than taking more than one, and

better keeps out the thoughts which trou-

ble us. Or a hymn may be repeated in

the same manner. Thus by degrees the

wandering thoughts may pass away, and

we may turn those words of Holy Scrip-

ture into prayer, taking a verse at a time

and meditating upon it. But even that

must not last too long whilst we are so

weak. It is of no use in such states try-

ing to go on with prayer (if by that is

meant saying ivords to God), and trying

thereby to overcome wanderings ; it only

increases the evil, and leaves us more

weak, and sad, and depressed, than when

we began. Perhaps it may be objected,

that to say the same words again and again

would be vain repetition. Yet it is writ-

ten, that in that last night of the agony

of our Lord in the garden. He thrice re-

10 A FEW WOEDS

turned, saying tlie same words, "Father, if

it be possible, let this cup pass from me."

We may say the same words, if we be con-

tent to receive the same answer which St.

Paul received, when he " besought the

Lord thrice," that the thorn in the flesh

might be taken from Him : his prayer was

answered ; not as he then wished, but in

a far higher way, " My grace is sufficient

for thee." And it is sufficient for every

sick person still, and ever will be.

One more hindrance to prayer maybe mentioned—the much stronger hold

which the things that are seen have upon

us. We are always seeking for something

visibleJbut the " things which are seen

are temporal, and the things which are

not seen are eternal." How little idea

we have of that which is unseen or eter-

nal ! And we sometimes feel as if our

prayers went no where, because we do

not see the result of them.

Is there nothing of self in the wish to

pray well? Should we not think our

souls in a better state if we could ? And

ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF PRAYEE. 11

would not that please us rather than be

pleasing to God ? Self is the hindrance

to prayer, it comes between God and the

soul. We wish for pleasure even in our

devotions ; our Father sees that we need

discipline^ and this is a very needful part

of our training. It is thus we learn to

" refrain our souls and keep them low."

We should never learn to put our full

trust and confidence only in His mercy

without it. To go on and persevere,

amidst discouragements, is a far higher

service, and greater test of sincerity, than

any other we could have been called on

to make. When we suppose that Godrequires of us more than He has given us

the power to perform, we make Him a

" hard Master, reaping where He has not

sown, and gathering where He has not

strawed,"—a tash-master^ not a loving

Father. He has set us our task now, and

we find it a very hard one, for it is to lie

still ; but if we go beyond what He has

set us, we are not " doing our duty in that

state of life unto which it has pleased God

12 A FEW WOEDS

to call US ;" it is only in " quietness and

confidence " tliat we can " possess our

strength." For every talent which Hehas given us, we shall surely have to

give account ; but the talents which Hehas either not given us, or has taken

away from us, are not ours ; wê have no

business with them. It is quite enough

for us to improve what are given to us;

He knows what He has given ; Heknows what He has taken away ; and

He is a " righteous Judge," strong and

patient. What has been said of prayer

applies equally to reading the Scriptures.

He knows what we can, and what wecannot do ; it may be more effort to read

a single verse at one time, than manychapters at another. Only let us do

what we can, and leave the rest to God.

We often think that too much depends

on our prayers. If we never think that

our salvation depends on them, at any

rate, we think that everything short of it

does ; alas ! if it did, what hope would

there be for any of us ? But do our

ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF PEAYER. 1

3

prayers bring Christ nearer to us ? Is

it not tliat He is thereby drawing us to

Him ? " He dwelleth with us, and shall

be in us." It is His intercession which

gives worthiness to our prayers ; He sifts

them, and does not offer for us the manyfoolish petitions which would be for the

ruin of our souls if they were answered

as we wish, and ask that they should be.

We " lay the gift on the altar ;" it is He

who offers it up. To think of our pray-

ers, and what they work out for us, is

after all looking to ourselves : looking

from Christ. But is there so great a

contrast between our prayers now in

sickness, and what they were in days of

health ? Were they so very fervent then %

Did we never complain of wandering

thoughts then \ And yet we had not

the same excuse that we now have.

They were more continuous and regular,

perhaps, but were they more earnest ?

Were they such as they ought to have

been, and as we now suppose that they

were %

2

14 A FEW WOEDS

It is earnestness, reality, simplicity,

and sincerity, not length, not the going

tlu'ougli certain subjects regularly that

constitutes prayer : some of the most

earnest prayers that were ever offered,

and that were the most quickly answer-

ed, contained very few words, " Lord,

save me, or I perish." " Jesus, Thou Son

of David, have mercy upon me." " Lord,

I believe, help Thou mine unbelief"

" Lord, remember me, when Thou comest

into thy kingdom." The cry of a drown-

ing man would be very brief and unstud-

ied, but full of earnestness and purpose,

and would be in such a case fuller of

meaning, and gain more immediate atten-

tion, than if he spoke many long senten-

ces at another time. O that sickness

might teach any of us to be as earnest, as

real, as simple ! for if sickness teaches us

to pray with full purpose of heart, how-

ever briefly, it will not have come to us in

vain. How often we have asked to be

taught to pray. Perhaps this sickness is

the aDswer. We are to be taught, by


having everything wherein we trusted

taken away from us, and till then weshall not be brought into entire depend*

ence upon God. It is very painful to

feel that almost every prayer (at any rate

for a time) is to be a trial, and not an

enjoyment as we would fain have it : but

it is most wholesome discipline, and weshall surely reap the benefit of it another

day. It is our " Father's loving correc-

tion." It is good for us to have our pray-

ers, and everything else in which we have

trusted, broken to pieces ; that " the Lordalone may be exalted in that day." Andthis sickness is the day of His visitation,

the " hand of God hath touched " us.

Let us give hearty thanks to Him, for

this and all blessings.

If prayer is converse with God, whatdoes that mean ? Does it need words ?

He can hear the " voice of our breathing ;

"

therefore we need not " strive nor cry, nor

lift up om- voice," for He is very near to

us, strengthening us and upholding us

with the right hand of His righteousness.

16 A FEW WOEDS

If a little child wanted Ms eartMy

fatlier to do sometliing for him, would he

ask it in many or formal words ? Andshall we treat our Heavenly Father, whois " very pitiful and of tender mercy,"

with less trust and confidence ? Even

with earthly parents, it is the intention

of the child that they look at, or desire

to discover. They would not charge it

with sin, and punish it for every mistake

or folly. How much more, then, must

He who " searcheth the heart," and

knows all our thoughts, look at our in-

tention ? He sees the heart—He reads

it : if He sees that we desire to pray, but

that weakness hinders, He accepts the

intention, and " like as a father pitieth

his children, so doth the Lord pity them

that fear Him, for He knoweth our frame.

He remembereth that we are dust ;" He

will " not impute iniquity to us."

Let us always strive to look at all these

difficulties about prayer as trials^ as meant

to be so by oui' most loving Father, whoHimself has sent them to us. Let us be-

ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF PEAYER. 17

lieve in His love, and rest in that alone.

Let us be sure tliat He understands us

even before we try to express our wants

to Him ; and that He has " loved us with

an everlasting love, and therefore with

loving-kindness has He drawn "us nearer

to Himself by the very discipline that weshrink from. We need not wait, there-

fore, till we can say long prayers. Short

prayers are great helps, and are especially

necessary in sharp pain or great weakness.

They often save from dangers ; for these

are times of peculiar temptation :" Lord,

help me ;"—" My Father, this is a time of

need, and I come to Thee to help me ;"

—

" Lord, hear my crying." Such words

have helped many sufferers, and enabled

them to lie down and rest in His arms,

who is always close at hand to help, sup-

port, strengthen, and comfort. Let us be

carefal never to resist emotions to prayer

;

it may be that by doing so we grieve the

Spirit of God—certainly we deprive our

own souls of blessing.

And now of what we have said this is

2*

18 A FEW WORDS

the sum. Tlie only true remedy against

these trying difficulties about prayer, is

to rest in the love of God. The more weare enabled to do so, the more we shall

know of that " peace which passeth all

understanding :

" it will " keep our hearts

and minds," and we shall find how true

it is that the world can neither give nor

take it away. If " the love of God were

shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy

Ghost," all things else would be to us as

dross ; and we should " determine to

know nothing but Christ and Him cruci-

fied." Then we should know that prayer

is worship : that worship, to be accepta-

ble, must be ofifered according to the will

of God ; so that if He sends us sickness,

we are to worship Him by the entire re-

signation of ourselves, by the ofi:ering upof our bodies as a " living sacrifice "

—

offering them to suffer as He sees neces-

sary for us, to be laid as low as He wills,

to lose our will in His will. Silence and

submission to the will of God is the serv-

ice required of us now ; and by God's


grace this may become the purest and

the holiest offering that we ever had to

bring. There may have been much of

self in our former attempts at sacrifice

;

but in this, if we will only let God workin us without any resistance on our parts,

it cannot be so. But let us " do all

things without murmurings and disput-

ings." Let us resign our wills, without

complaining to our fellow-creatures, or

telling them how hard it is for us to do

so. The less we struggle, the easier it

will be—"Woe to him who striveth

against his Maker." If we murmur, weshall rob ourselves of the blessing whichthis trial surely contains ; it may seem to

come in a strange guise, yet may bring

us a message from the God of love. Wemust, however, be patient. Kesting in

God and in His perfect love is not a les-

son learnt in an hour or a day, but the

gradual work of our lives. We must bepatient with ourselves, and not get out

of heart because we learn it so slowly,

and often seem to forget it again. We

20 A FEW WOKDS

must be patient witli our Teacher, wlio

never grows weary of teacliing us : His

lessons are all taught in perfect wisdom

;

they often seem to us as if they would

work out just the wrong thing ; but Heknows what He is doing, and " with Himis no variableness, neither shadow of turn-

ing." He will " work all His works in

us."

Let us not be discouraged because our

memories fail, and we can remember noth-

ing good, as it seems to us ; but let us

always take comfort in the promise, that

the " Holy Ghost will take of the things

of Christ, and show them unto us ;" and

that He " will bring all things to our re-

membrance, whatsoever Christ hath spok-

en " to us, and the rest had far better

be forgotten.

How great the comfort is that the

" Holy Ghost maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered."

We know not what to pray for as weought, but He " helpeth our infirmities,"

and " puts into om^ minds good desires."


And we " have a merciful and faith fill

High Priest, who maketh reconciliation

for the sins of the people ;

" " wherefore

He is able to save them to the uttermost

that come unto God by Him, seeing Heever liveth to make intercession for

them." "What more do we need ? Only

this,—to cease from ourselves, and to de-

pend wholly upon Christ; to believe

that " all our prayers are nothing worth ;

"

that their worthiness comes only through

His intercession. Let us go forward then,

and be no more " discouraged because of

the way." Yet a little while, and all dis-

couragement shall be ended, and " Godshall wipe away all tears from our eyes,"

and " in His light we shall see light."

Amongst the sick there are many, prob-

ably, who never learnt the blessing of

prayer, until they were taught by sick-

ness to turn to the God of love as their

Father, and to the Lord Jesus as their

only Saviour. If they said their prayers

in the days of health, they did not heed

the wandering thoughts;

prayer was

22 A FEW WOEDS

with them a habit, a formal thing. But

when their ears were opened to hear the

voice of God, and they awoke as from a

sleep, and first tried to pray, they found

the task very difficult ; they longed to

pray, they felt the need of it in earnest

;

but their minds seemed to be fixed on

nothing. This is a sore distress ; but

the remedy is the same for them—to rest

in the love of God, and not to be over

anxious about the words spoken in pray-

er, their number or their fervency. OurFather, " of His great and endless pity,"

has taught you to seek Him. He would

not have done so if He had not loved

you, and willed your salvation. But Hedoes not expect of you what He does of

those who have long been seeking Him

;

the cry of a child as really shows life as

the voice of a man. A child learning to

speak has few words, perhaps but one at

first ; but by degrees he gets more and

more. Thus it is with you ; and if you

have no words, the Lord's Prayer will

express all your needs for you. Do not


say to anything that you may read here,

" it is high, I cannot attain to it." Youare not called to do so 3êt. The simpler

prayer is, the truer it is. It is better not

to question what is prayer and what is

not. It is enough to know that we maytell every thought of our hearts in the

most simple words to our Heavenly Fa-

ther, and that He will hear and under-

stand them :" He will be very gracious

unto the voice of thy cry, and when Heshall hear it. He will answer thee." " Hethat hath begun a good work in you will

perform it." And if words fail you, Hecan understand your heart, and see its

desire. Only be in earnest, and you shall

want no good thing.

May we all who ai*e sick and dying,

pray the more earnestly for all who are

sick and dying, " remembering those whoare in bonds, as bound with them."

" The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

be with us all." Amen.

NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

SrN"CE the first edition of these Prayers

was published, it has been found that to

some sick persons the inverted commasproved a distraction to their eyes whenthey desired to be unconscious that they

were reading. They have therefore been

uniformly omitted in this edition.

For the same reason no references have

been given, or italics used : there are,

however, few sentences which have not

been taken partly or entirely from HolyScripture, or from the Prayer Book.

PART I.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK.

He Himself bare our sicknesses.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK.

MORNING.

LOED, I thank Thee that the

night is ended and that the

sun has risen again upon the

earth. May the Sun of Kighteousness

arise upon me with healing in His wings.

Help me to give Thee hearty thanks that

soon there shall be no more night, but

that Thou wilt be my everlasting light,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Thanks be unto Thee for all Thine un-

speakable gifts ! Vouchsafe, O Lord, to

keep me this day without sin ; have

mercy upon me, for I am weak ; leave

me not, neither forsake me. I am sore

let and hindered in running the race

28 PEAYEES FOE THE SICK.

whicli Thou liast appointed for me;yet,

Lord, save Thy servant, for I put mytrust in Thee. Send me help from Thyholy place, and do Thou mightily defend

me. Let the enemy have no advantage

over me to-day, nor let the wicked ap-

proach to hurt me. Be unto me, O Lord,

a strong tower from the face of the ene-

my. Thou hast brought me into sick-

ness, and I know not when Thou wilt

bring me unto death. Help me always

to watch, for I know not at what hour

Thou wilt come ; may I be found ready

whenever Thou dost call me. O Lord,

1 know not what lies before me to-day

;

but Thou knowest. Thy compassions

fail not, they are new every morning

:

help me to lean on Thee alone ; let metake hold of the arm of Thy strength,

and be at peace with Thee. I know, OLord, that Thy judgments are right ; let

me not be afraid of them. Yet, O myFather, I fear myself ; sin is ever present

with me ; even my very sickness, which

Thou hast sent- to do me good, tempts

PEAYEES FOE THE SICK. 29

me to sin. Draw nigli unto my soul and

save it, because of mine enemies. Ocleanse Thou me from my secret faults

;

keep back Tliy servant from presump-

tuous sins, lest they get tlie dominion

over me.

Let tlie words of my mouth and the

meditation of my heart be acceptable in

Thy sight to-day. Set a watch, O Lord,

on the door of my lips, lest I sin against

Thee. Keep me from speaking any has-

ty, or unkind, or sinfal words ; keep

me from impatience, from murmuring

thoughts ; from ingratitude or unkind-

ness to others, by word or deed ; from

want of love and want of sympathy to

those about me. Keep me from selfish-

ness, from discontent, from vdshing to

have things otherwise than Thou hast

appointed them. From indolence and

self-indulgence, from needless anxieties,

from tormenting my mind with trifles,

from over-estimation of my trials, from

all falseness of mind and of doctrine, good3*


Lord, deliver me. Give me humility,

gentleness, and meekness ; help me to

give thanks for all Thy gifts, especially

for Thy love to me, and for the love

which Thou hast put into the hearts of

others towards me. Put into my mind

good desires, and fill my heart this day

with holy thoughts. Let me count these

light aflictions as but for a moment, and

may I look not at the things which are

seen, and are temporal, but at the things

which are unseen, and eternal. Bless

those who govern this country. Give

Thy heavenly blessing to the Church

and the Clergy, and to all my friends

;

strengthen and comfort the sick and the

dying, and those who nurse them : bless

all men, and let the whole earth be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the

Lord, as the waters cover the sea, through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 31

II.

EVENING.

Almiglity and most merciful Father,

let my prayer be set forth in Tliy sight

as the incense, and let the lifting up of

my hands be an evening sacrifice.

Forgive, O Lord, my sins of this day

;

the sins of my soul and the sins of mybody ; my presumptuous sins ; those

which no eye saw but Thine, O Lord

;

those sins which I have done to please

either myself or others. Forgive methose sins which I have knowingly com-

mitted, and also forgive my negligences,

my want of fellow-feeling with others,

my selfishness and self-indulgence, myeagerness or indifference, my irritability

and fretfulness, my coldness and want of

love.

But, O Lord God, when I have con-

fessed the sins that I know of, they are

only a very small part of what Thou

32 PRAYERS FOR THE SICK.

knowest of me. Reveal to me those sins

wiiicli I did ignorantly, and forgive all

my sin;pardon mine iniquity, for it is

great ; let tlie blood of Jesus Christ

cleanse me from all sin.

O Lord, I praise and bless Thee for all

Thy wonderful mercies to me this day,

for Thy care over me, Thy love to me, for

all the gifts that Thou hast given me, for

all the comforts which I have enjoyed, for

the strength which Thou hast given meto bear pain, for Thine own presence in

loveliness, and for all other mercies so

far above all that I could ask or think.

Give me a thankful, humble heart, that

I may prize each blessing.

Thou hast held me and kept me this

day, and now, O Father, into Thy hands

I commend my spirit. If Thou hast ap-

pointed a wearisome night for me, teach

me to be contented with it. If Thou wilt

give unto me the blessing of sleep, help

me to be thankful ; let me not be afraid

for any terror by night, defend me under


Thy wings, let me feel tliat I am safe un-

der Thy feathers, and that Thy faithful-

ness and truth are my shield and buckler.

If I lie awake, keep me, O Lord, from sin-

ful thoughts, drive far from me the ene-

my, and grant me peace mth Thee ; thus

I shall be kept fi'om the wiles of the devil.

Do Thou fill my mind with holy and

heavenly desires, so that there shall be

no room for evil thoughts. Let my heart

be occupied with Thy statutes, keep mefrom restlessness, or from saying. WouldGod it were morning ! Grant that I maynot be scared with night visions, nor let

Thy terrors make me afiâid. And, OLord, if this night I should sleep the sleep

of death, let not death have dominion

over me. Let me hear Thy voice saying

Fear not, for I am with thee, I have re-

deemed thee. In sleep and in death, OLord, may I be Thine.

Help me to bear patiently whatever

pain and weakness and suffering Thouhast appointed for me. O God of love,

teach me to say, Thy will be done.

34 PEAYERS FOR THE SICK.

O Holy Ghost, be witli me, and makeintercession for me, according to the will

of God.

O Saviour of the world, help me to re-

member Thy Cross and Passion and Thynight of agony.

Bless all the sick and dying, and grant

unto them the peace of God and all other

blessings this night and evermore. Amen.

III.

MIDNIGHT.

O Lord God Almighty, the earth is

keeping silence before Thee now, dark-

ness covers the earth, but the darkness

hideth not from Thee, the dai-kness and

the light are both alike to Thee. MyFather, look upon me, for Thou neither

slumberest nor sleepest. Thou holdest

mine eyes waking, I am so feeble that I

cannot sleep. Let me feel that I am not

alone, that Thou ai*t with me, let Thyrod and Thy staff comfort me. Lord, fill

me with Thy fulness, so that all evil

PRATEE8 FOR THE SICK. 35

tlionglits may be kept out. Let not vain

thoughts lodge within me. Let not the

darkness be a messenger of Satan to

buffet me. Speak to my soul, and say

unto me, I am Thy salvation. Let not

my heart be troubled, and let it not be

afraid. Lord, Thou knowest all things

;

Thou knowest how often the thoughts of

yesterday trouble me, and the blackness

of the night seems to have settled upon

them. I am troubled above measure, yet

help Thou me. 1 have said words tliat I

wish unsaid, but I cannot alter them now.

O Lord, prevent them ftôm harming

others. I am tempted to magnify words

that were said to me ; Lord, Thou know-

est all, whatsoever it is, that hath so

sorely troubled me. Be pleased to de-

liver me from tTiese snares of the devil

:

do not let me think unkindly of any whohave grieved me. Keep me from dwell-

ing on anything that is past, or any cir-

cumstances connected with it. If any

have made me sorrowful, help me to pray

for them, and grant, O Lord, that when-

36 PRAYEES FOR THE SICK.

soever I am made soiTowfiil, I may be

sorrowful after a godly sort.

Purify all my thoughts, cleanse Thoume from secret faults, let the Blood of

Jesus Christ Thy Son cleanse me from

all sin. Defend me from all the tempta-

tions of this night, hide me under the

shadows of Thy wings. Let my medita-

tion of Thee be sweet. Lift up the light

of Thy countenance upon me, and that

shall put joy and gladness into my heart.

Then shall the night be light unto me, if

Thou, O Lord God, givest me light.

Help me to rest in Thy love ; and give

unto me that peace which the world can-

not give, that whether sleeping or wak-

ing I may be with Thee. Help me to lie

still and not to grow weary. Give mesongs in the night. O blessed Jesus,

when Thou wast on earth Thou hadst

not where to lay Thy head. Make mevery thankfal for all the comforts and

blessings which Thou hast given me;

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 3V

and though I cannot spend my sleepless

nights in prayer, yet Thou wilt accept

the desires of my heart, and wilt make

intercession for me.

Be gracious unto all the sick and dy-

ing, and in the midst of their suffering,

let them feel that Thou lovest them.

Holy Trinity, abide with me this night

and evermore. All this I ask through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IV.

FOR REPENTANCE.

O Lord God, who hast said that Thouhast no pleasure in the death of him that

dieth, Thou who hast promised to all

them who truly repent and turn to Thee

with fnll purpose of heart, that though

their sins be as scarlet, they shall be

made white as snow ; though they be

red like crimson, they shall be as wool,

have mercy upon me, pardon and deliver

me from all my sins.

4


O Lord, I believe tliat though I have

sinned, yet I have an advocate with the

Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and

He is the propitiation for my sins. For

He was wounded for my transgressions,

and smitten for my wickedness, and He is

the merciful receiver of all true penitents.

O Lord, give me true repentance, help

me to submit myself unto Thee, and from

henceforth to walk in Thy ways. Help

me to follow Jesus in all patience, lowli-

ness, and charity, and to take His easy

yoke upon me, so that I may be deliv-

ered from the curse of the law.

From henceforth may I be ordered by

the government of Thy Holy Spirit. OLord, vouchsafe to bring me to Thy glo-

rious kingdom, for Thine infinite mercy,

and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

V.

SORKOW FOR Sm.

O Lord God Almighty, Thou art come

out of Thy place to visit my wickedness,


and tow shall I abide the day of Tli}'

coming ? I have said, Peace, and all

things are safe ; I have despised Thygoodness, patience, and long-suffering,

which were continually calling me to

repentance. Lord, I have abused Thygoodness, which has so often called meto amendment. Yet have mercy upon

me, O Lord, after Thy great goodness,

according to the multitude of Thy mer-

cies do away mine offences, for I amsorry for my sin. I do earnestly repent,

and am heartily sorry for these my mis-

doings, the remembrance of them is

grievous unto me, the burden of them

is intolerable ; have mercy upon me,

most merciful Father ; for thy Son, our

Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive me all

that is past, and grant that I may ever

hereafter serve and please Thee, in new-

ness of life, to the honor and glory of

Thy name, through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.


VI.

FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

Jesus, my Saviour, Thou wlio wert in

all points tempted like as I am, yet with-

out sin : have mercy upon me : heal mysoul, for I have sinned against Thee. I

have offended against Thy holy laws. I

have left undone those things which I

ought to have done, and done those

things which I ought not to have done,

and there is no health in me. Jesus,

Son of David, have mercy upon me.

Lord, lay not this sin to my charge.

Wash me thoroughly from my wicked-

ness, and cleanse me from my sins. For

I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is

ever before me. Turn Thy face from mysins, and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, and renew a

right spirit within me. For in me dwell-

eth no good thing. I have sinned against

heaven and in Thy sight. Yet speak the


word, and Thy servant shall be healed

:

for Thoii hast said, I will heal thy back-

slidings and love thee freely. Let not

sin have dominion over me, that being

justified by Thy blood I may be saved

from wrath through Thee, and may joy

in God, because Thou, O Lord Jesus

Christ, hast made atonement for us, so

that there is no more condemnation since

Thou hast died and art risen again, and

art ever at the right hand of God to

make intercession for us, and Thine is

the kingdom, and the power, and the

glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

VIL

FOR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Lord, my Heavenly Father, without

faith it is impossible to please Thee.

Have mercy on me, for my faith is very

weak.

1 believe that Jesus is the Son of God,

I love His holy name, and trust Him as

4*


my Saviour and my Redeemer, but, OLord, it is so coldly and so feebly. I amwearied witb everything that binders me,

and with the evil and sin of my ownheart. Lord, I believe, help Thou myunbelief. O teach me that His name

was called Jesus, for He shall save His

people from their sins, and that He is

exalted to give repentance. Give merepentance, O Lord Jesus Christ, for I

am poor and needy. Thou hast prom-

ised to give it, without money and with-

out price.

Give me faith, O Jesus, to believe that

Thou hast redeemed me, purchased mewith Thy precious blood, that I amThine ; and that no man shall pluck meout of Thy hand. Let me believe more

simply that Thy blood cleanseth from

all sin, and when I sin, O Holy Ghost,

convince me of my sin, and make me to

know and feel that there is none other

name, but only the name of the Lord

Jesus, whereby I can obtain health and

salvation. Enable me always to look

PRAYEES FOR THE SICK. 43

unto Jesus, and to give thanks tliat wehave an advocate with the Father.

I would ask in faith, nothing waver-

ing, but my faith is so weak, that it is

like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed.

Lord, increase my faith.

Wilt Thou graciously strengthen and

confirm it, that I may have daily before

me the dying of the Lord Jesus, and maygladly die with Him, and believe that I

am risen with Christ, and seek those

things which are above, where Christ

sitteth at Thy right hand. Help me to

be faithful unto death, and never a2:ain

to doubt Thy promises or Thy love, but

to believe that all Thy commandmentsare right.

Give the same blessing, O Lord, to all

who ask it, especially to those who are

sick. May we all seek for true faith in

Thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.


VIII

FOR PATIENCE.

God of patience, make me to be like-

minded witli Thee. I wish to be patient

toward all men ; but when I would do

good, evil is present with me ; the good

that I would, I do not ; but the evil that

I would not, that I do. O wretched manthat I am, who shall deliver me from the

body of this death ? I have thought

more highly of myself than I ought to

have done, and lest I should be exalted

above measure, Thou hast given me this

thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan

to buffet me. I have besought Thee

that it might depart from me, for, OLord, it sorely tempts me to impatience.

I cry. Lord, how long, for I fear lest the

woe should come on me, because I have

lost patience. In weariness and painful-

ness, in watchings, in hunger, and thirst,

O my God, I am tempted to impatience

;

PEAYBES FOE THE SICK. 45

Lord, help mine unbelief, for Thou hast

said. He that believeth shall not makehaste, and that patience must have her

perfect work. O give me the patience

of Christ Jesus ; help me to consider

Him, so that I may run the race that is

set before me with patience ; help mealways to be looking unto Jesus, and

thus may I bring forth fruit with pa-

tience unto all long-suffering with joyful-

ness.

O my Father, enable me to possess mysoul in patience, that 1 may not grieve

the Holy Spirit. I have need of pa-

tience ; do Thou strengthen me with all

might, according to Thy glorious power,

for I fall into manifold temptations. Let

patience have its perfect work, and do

not spare for the crying of the child

;

only do Thou uphold me in the fiery fur-

nace, so that I shall not be burned, nor

the flame kindle upon me. And what I

ask for myself, I ask also for all who are

tempted in like manner. Let us hear

Thy voice saying. My grace is sufficient


for thee, My strengtli is made perfect in

weakness. Most gladly tlien will weratlier glory in our infirmities, tliat the

power of Christ may rest upon us, and

in our flesh we shall praise God the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

IX.

FOE CONTENTMENT.

Jesus, my Saviour, I would follow in

the blessed steps of Thy most holy life :

help Thou me. Thou didst say, Lo ! I

come to do Thy will, O God, I am con-

tent to do it : O help me to say so. I

dare not say it, lest I should draw nigh

with my lips, whilst my heart is far off.

I love to do Thy will when it pleases

me, but I am not contented when mywill is crossed. Lamb of God that tak-

est away the sins of the world, forgive

me for all my discontented thoughts, and

words, and actions. I have not been

contented to wait Thy time, I have


sought to see tlie way beforehand. I

liave not been contented to walk in

darkness and have no light, I have not

stayed myself upon Thee. I have asked

for light, and have thought I did well to

be angry because it was Thy will that

my way should be hid. O Lord, I can-

not have peace until I can rest in Thylove, without asking to see the way by

which Thou art leading me. Help meto be contented with all Thy will con-

cerning me : keep me from repining

against loneliness : from too great eager-

ness for human sympathy : from impa-

tience in sorrow ; in darkness ; under in-

justice, or the misunderstandings and

hard speeches of others. O Lord Jesus,

help me to remember that Thou hast

borne all these sorrows for me, and that

if I learn of Thee who art meek and

lowly of heart, all these things will be

blessings to me and will liken me unto

Thee. Make me to love Thy will in all

things, because it is Thy will. Keep mefrom looking forward even for a day or


an hour. Teach me in whatsoever state

I am, therewith to be content, to knowhow to be abased and how to abound.

May I receive each trial and each bless-

ing as Thy gift ; may I do Thy holy will

in all things, and be content with such

things as I have, for Thou wilt never

leave nor forsake me. May I take no

thought for the morrow, and be carefid

for nothing, but in everything by prayer

and supplication make my requests

known unto God.

Make me content to live or to die : to

suffer or to do Thy will : to be alone, to

be sick ; to be misunderstood or un-

known, just as seemeth good in Thysight. God the Father help me to rest

in Thy love.

God the Son help me to love Thy will.

God the Holy Ghost strengthen and

comfort me. Amen.

PEAYEES FOR THE SICK. 49

X.

FOR CALMNESS OF MIND.*

Thou, O Lord Jesus, wast meek and

lowly in heart;give me a meek and con-

trite spirit, as becometh a sinner, yet one

who hath hope in Thee. Let me not be

unduly cast down or puffed up, let not

my soul sink into the depths of despair,

let not the waterflood overflow me, neither

let the deep swallow me up ; let not myheart be haughty, nor mine eyes lofty,

lest the steps of my strength be straight-

ened, and my own counsel shall cast medown ; lest my confidence shall be rooted

out of my tabernacle, and it shall bring

me to the king of terrors.

Give me grace, O Lord, to possess mysoul in patience ; to behave and quiet

myself as a child that is weaned of his

mother. Let not the extremity of an-

guish call forth words of bitterness or

discontent, or lead me to speak unadvis-

5

50 PRAYEES FOE THE SICK.

edly with my lips ; but in all my suffer-

ing be Thon my support. Let tbe re-

membrance of Thy most bitter Passion

fill my heart with gratitude, and dispose

my spirit to quietness and resignation.

Keep thy servant also from presumptu-

ous sins; let them not have dominion

over me. The sacrifices of God are a

broken spirit, a broken and a contrite

heart, O God, Thou wilt not desjDise.

Give me, O Lord, the fruit of the Spir-

it, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle-

ness, goodness, faith, meekness, tempe-

rance. Let all bitterness, and wrath,

and anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking,

be put away from me with all malice,

that nothing be done through strife, or

vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind I

may esteem others better than myself

Give me grace, O Lord, to be humble-

minded and sober ; not soon shaken in

mind or troubled, but walking circum-

spectly ; redeeming the time, putting on

the breastplate of faith and love, and for

an helmet the hope of salvation, in and


by Thee, wlio didst die for us, that

whether we wake or sleep, we should

live together with Thee. And may the

God of Peace sanctify me wholly, and

preserve my whole soul, and spirit, and

body, blameless unto Thy coming ; wholivest and reignest with the Father and

the Holy Ghost, one God, world without

end. Amen.

XI.

FOR HUMILITY.

Out of the deep have I called unto

Thee, O Lord ; Lord, hear my voice. If

Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark

what is done amiss, O Lord, who mayabide it ? But there is mercy with Thee,

therefore shalt Thou be feared. Lord, I

am high-minded, I have proud looks, I

exercise myself in great matters which

are too high for me ; but Thou hast hum-

bled me and laid me in the dust. Lord,

Thou knowest all my desire, and mygroaning is not hid from Thee. O do


Thou refrain my soul and keep it low,

like as a child that is weaned from its

mother ; make mv soul even as a weanedchild.

I have said, God, I thank Thee that I

am not as other men are ; I have magni-

fied myself, therefore Thou hast brought

me low, even to the dust. I have con-

sidered the days of old, and the years

that are past. O God, childhood and

youth alike are vanity ; my heart has

been lifted up, and I have spoken great

swelling words. Help me now, though

I have offended, not to offend any more.

That which I see not, teach Thou me.

Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned

;

for Thou art the Lord my God. Surely

after that I was turned, I repented;

and after that I was instructed, I was

ashamed;yea, even confounded, because

I did bear the reproach of my youth.

O blessed Jesus ! teach Thou me ; mayI learn of Thee to be meek and lowly in

heart, that I may find rest unto my soul.

As Thou didst come to visit us in


great humility, so in the last day, whenThou shalt come again in Thy glorious

majesty to judge both the quick and the

dead, may we rise to the life immortal,

through Him that liveth and reigneth

with Thee and the Holy Ghost, now and

ever. Amen.

XII.

FOR REST IN GOD IN WEAKNESS.

O Father of mercies, and God of all

comfort! I flee unto Thee for refuge,

until this calamity be overpast. Thouhast brought me very low in a low place.

I am so feeble that I cannot speak.

Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. I

lift up my soul unto Thee. Hear the

voice of my humble desire, the voice of

my breathing. Help me to be still, and

know that Thou art God. I would rest

in Thy love. Help me to abide under

the shadow of Thy wing, to dwell in Thysecret place. O Lord, my Father, Thou


art my refuge and my fortress, my God,

in Thee will I trust. Thou hast set

Thine house of defence very high, that

I may run into it and be safe. My Fa-

ther, Thy child is very weak and cannot

walk alone : Thou hast promised to carry

me in Thine arms. I do not ask Thee to

renew the strength of this body of sin

and death. I do not seek great things

for myself: I only ask for strength to

trust Thee, and to be silent in Thee ; to

lie still in Thine arms, and let Thee cany

me whithersoever Thou wiliest ; and that

Thou wilt give me sure trust and confi-

dence in Thee.

Help me, O Lord, to have no will but

Thine, and in everything to be able to

say, Even so. Father, for so it seemeth

good in Thy sight : and though I have

a desire to depart and to be with Christ,

yet help me to wait all the days of myappointed time till my change come, and

in that hour when Thou wilt say unto

me. Come up hither, O righteous Father,

be with me : then do Thou answer for


me, O Lord my God. O blessed Jesus,

who hast tasted death for every man, be

with me, and let me feel that I am not

alone. O Holy Ghost, the Comforter, be

present with me in that hour. O holy

Trinity, help me, and all w^ho cry to Thee

for succor, to glorify Thee now in sick-

ness, and at the hour of death, and then

to praise Thee for ever. Amen.

, XIII.

IN PAIN.

Almighty God and merciful Father, to

whom belong the issues of life and death,

look down from heaven, I humbly be-

seech Thee, with the eyes of Thy mercy.

Of whom can I seek for succor, but of

Thee, O Lord, who for my sins art justly

displeased ?

O Lord, I am chastened with pain

upon my bed, and the multitude of mybones with strong pain : so that my life

abhorreth bread, and my soul dainty


meat. My flesli is consumed away that

it cannot be seen, and my bones that

were not seen stick out ; my soul draw-

eth near unto the grave. I am troubled,

I am bowed down greatly, for my loins

are filled with a loathsome disease, and

there is no soundness in my fiesh. Benot far from me, for trouble is near. Ourfathers trusted in Thee, and Thou didst

deliver them. Hungry and thirsty their

souls fainted in them : then they cried

unto Thee in their trouble, and Thoudidst deliver them out of their distresses.

Thou didst bring them out of darkness

and the shadow of death, and break their

bonds in sunder. Their souls abhorred

all manner of meat, and they drew near

unto the gates of death. O Lord, speak

the word, and Th3^ servant shall be

healed ; or if this be not Thy holy will,

yet say unto my soul, I am thy salva-

tion, I will strengthen thee, yea, I will

uphold thee with my righteousness

;

when thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee, and through the

PEAYERS FOR THE SICK. 5*7

floods, they shall not overflow thee

;

when thou walkest through the fire thou

shalt not be burned, neither shall the

flame kindle upon thee.

Lord, increase my faith. Look gra-

ciously upon all who are in pain ; help

us all to believe steadfastly in Him who(êd and rose again. Thy Son our Lord

Jesus Christ. Amen.

XIV.

IN INFIRMITIES WHICH HUMILIATE.*

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy wrath,

neither chasten me in Thy hot displeas-

ure ; for Thine arrows stick fast in me,

and Thy hand presseth me sore. WhenThou with rebukes dost correct man for

iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to con-

sume away like a moth. Surely every

man is vanity. But, O Lord, Thou art

with me still, although my soul is cast

down, and my flesh wasteth, and I amlaid low in the dust ; still may I hope in

58 PEAYEES FOR THE SICK.

Thee, and yet praise Tliee, the health of

my countenance and my God. Have

mercy upon me, O God, wash me through-

ly from mine iniquity, and cleanse mefrom my sin. Purge me with hyssop,

and I shall be clean : wash me, and I

shall be whiter than snow. Thou whowast despised and rejected of men, a manof sorrows, and acquainted with grief,

have mercy upon me ; Thou hast borne

our griefs and carried our sorrows ; Thou

wast wounded for our transgressions, and

bruised for oui' iniquities.

Thou hast sanctified suffering and sor-

row, pain and sickness. Lord, give megrace to bring forth their proper frûits.

It is good for me that I am afflicted ; myspirit was proud, and I needed humilia-

tion ; but, O Lord, let me not be utterly

cast down ; in the depth of my sorrow

and my shame be Thou my Comforter

;

Thou who endurest the Cross, despising

the shame, be with me ; help me, OLord, to bear meekly this thorn in myflesh. In great mercy hast Thou given


it, lest I should be exalted above meas-

ure ; let Thy grace be sufficient for me,

make my strength perfect in weakness.

Lord, I am poor and needy, and my heart

is wounded within me, I am like a shad-

ow that declineth ; I am helpless and

dependent, powerless as an infant, myhands hang down, and my knees are fee-

ble, and my infirmities press hard upon

me, and humble me in the sight of man.

But, O Lord, though this chastening

for the present seemeth grievous, let it

yield to me the peaceable fruits of right-

eousness. Thou dost chasten me for myprofit ; let me be partaker of Thy holi-

ness ; let that mind be in me which was

also in Christ Jesus, who humbled Him-

self and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the Cross, Let me not

be wearied and faint in my mind, but

endure hardness as a good soldier of

Jesus Christ. In His name I come unto

Thee for succor; Lord God of mercy,

hear my prayer, be with me now and

evermore. Amen.

60 PEAYEKS FOE THE SICK.

XV.

FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM HUNGER.

O most merciful God and Father, have

pity upon me. I know that as many as

Thou dost love, Thou dost rebuke and

chasten : and that like as a father pitieth

his children, so Thou dost pity them that

fear Thee. Thy hand hath touched me.

I thank Thee, O Lord, that it has touched

me, for by this I know that I am not for-

gotten by Thee. I do not ask Thee to

give me one less pain. I have not

shrunk from Thy judgments, for Thouteachest me. O how sweet are Thywords to my taste ! I do not ask Thee

to change my trials, because Thou hast

chosen them for me ; and therefore they

are sure to humble me and prove me, and

show me what is in my heart ; and to do

me good in my latter end. Yet I have

need of Thy grace to help in this time of

need. O my Father put strength into


me ! It hatli pleased Thee tliat I should

suffer hunger. My strength is hunger-

bitten. I can eat no pleasant bread. OLord Jesus Christ, Thou wast in all

points tempted like as I am, even in

this ; and Thou art touched with a feel-

ing of my infirmities. For our sakes

Thou didst fast forty days in the wilder-

ness alone, with none to comfort Thee.

Thou knowest all the great and sore

temptations of hunger ; for when Thouwert an hungered, the devil came and

tempted Thee. O my Savioui', he found

nothing in Thee that would yield to

him ; but he comes to me and finds very

much. Thou knowest what the tempta-

tions are, and needest not that any manshould tell Thee ; have mercy upon me,

for I am weak. By Thy fasting and

temptation, good Lord, deliver me. Keepme from yielding to any temptation,

however hidden ; and if I sin, speak the

words for me, Lay not this sin to his

charge. Set a watch on the door of mylips, O Lord, that I may not sin with my

6

62 PEATEES FOE THE SICK.

tongue. Give me to eat of the liiclden

manna ; and keep before my mind the

city which hath foundations, where I

shall hunger no more, where there will

be bread enough without any scarceness,

and I shall eat and be satisfied for ever.

Give me patience now under my suffer-

ings, and then, when it pleases Thee, a

happy issue out of them all.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, hear myprayer which I make unto Thee ; I ask

these blessings not for myself alone, but

for all who are suffering in like manner,

and also for the Poor. Amen.

XYI.

FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM THIRST.

O Lord my God, I would be still, and

patient, and gentle, and meek. Thouknowest all things. Thou knowest that

I love Thee. As the very hairs of myhead are all numbered, so this sore dis-

tress which I now suffer is kno^^Ti unto


Thee, and sent by Thee. O Lord, I amone of the poor and needy who seek for

water, and there is none, and their tongue

faileth for thirst ; for my throat is dry,

and my heart faileth me, and my tongue

cleaveth to my jaws, and my moisture is

turned into the drought of summer. Omy Father, have mercy upon me. I do

not ask that Thou wouldest take away

this thii^st from me, I only ask Thee to

teach me how to make a right use of it.

Grant that it may liken me to-Thy blessed

Son Jesus Christ, for He in His great hu-

mility bore this sorrow also ; even on the

Cross He said, I thirst. O Lord Jesus,

since Thou didst thirst. Thou knowest

all the pains, and the great and sore

temptations, which this trial brings to

me. Speak to my heart, and tell me that

Thou wilt help me to bear it patiently,

and silently, and vrithout murmuring, or

showing the impatience which it often

makes me feel. May I never try to bear

it alone, but always look up to Thee for

help : and feel sure that I shall not ask


in vain. Help me always to remember

that Tliou hast redeemed this suffering

also, and hast made it a holy thing. Thoudidst taste all its bitterness ; for Thouwouldest not drink, that Thou mightest

suffer with, and for, all who thirst.

my Father, not my will, but Thine

be done ; only do Thou fulfil Thy gra-

cious promise, that when the poor and

needy seek for water, and their tongue

faileth for thirst, Thou the Lord wilt

hear them, and wilt not forsake them.

1 thank Thee, O Father, that Thouhast said, that after this painful life is

ended we shall thirst no more ; even

now, whilst I am here, O Holy Spirit,

enable me, who am athirst, to come and

take of the water of life freely.

I ask these blessings, not for myself

alone, but for all who are suffering in

like manner, through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

PEAYERS FOR THE SICK. 65

XVII.

FOR THOSE IN POVERTY.

O Lord, look down from heaven, be-

hold, visit, and relieve me Thy servant,

if it be Thy holy will ; but if this is not

Thy will, then I beseech Thee to makemy will one with Thy will, and not to

let me strive against Thee. Thou hast

heard me bemoaning myself thus. Surely

Thou hast chastised me, and I was chas-

tened ; but, O Lord, I have been as a bul-

lock unaccustomed to the yoke. I thank

Thee that Thou dost chasten me still, and

hast not yet said. Why should ye be

stricken any more ? ye will revolt more

and more.

Lord, Thou knowest all things ; Thouknowest that it is not this sickness of mybody, this pain and weakness, that tries

me the most sharply ; if I had that alone,

it seems to me it would be easy to bear

it. But I cannot work now ; I can do6*


nothing, and yet I must live. And for

these things my heart is pained within

me. Yet, O my Father, I am sure that

Thou wouldest not have laid this trial

upon me, if it had not been quite neces-

sary for me ; for I know that Thou lov-

est me. Show me wherefore Thou con-

tendest with me. Show me, I pray Thee,

the love and the kindness that is in this

trial. Teach me how to depend entirely

on Thee, O Lord. May I look up to

Thee, as my Father who art in heaven,

and say, with tine child-like trust. Give

me this day my daily bread ; and if it is

Thy will that I should receive that daily

bread at the hands of some of Thy chil-

dren on earth, O Lord, let me be very

thankful to them, and give thanks to

Thee for putting it into their hearts to

minister to me. May I pray for them

with thankful love, and have no proud

looks, or ever be unwilling to receive

Thy gifts through their hands. Ah,

Lord God, I know how often I have, in

the pride and naughtiness of my heart,


tried to find out some reason wliy Thy

servants ought to be kind to me, instead

of receiving all their love and kindness

as Thy gift.

Grant me, O Lord, more love and more

simple trust in Thee ; enable me to feel

sure that Thou wilt not withhold any

good thing fi'om me, only the things that

would hurt my soul. Forgive me that

I have ever murmured, and help me, OLord Jesus my Saviour, to remember

that Thou hast made poverty a holy

state ; for though Thou wast rich, yet,

for our sakes. Thou didst become poor.

I thank Thee that I have a place where

to lay my head ; though Thou hadst

none.

O Lord, forgive me for having ever

complained of what Jesus bore so will-

ingly for me ; help me ever to remember

that for our sakes He made Himself of no

reputation, and took on Him the form of

68 PRAYEKS FOR THE SICK.

a servant, and humbled Himself, that wemight suffer with Him, so that we can

never be alone in our sufferings.

I know O Lord, that Thy judgments

are right, and that Thou hast humbled

me, and suffered me to hunger, that Thoumightest feed me with manna which 1

knew not of; make me to learn that mandoth not live by bread alone, but byevery word which proceedeth out of the

mouth of God. Help me now and ever-

more to say, the Lord is my Shepherd,

therefore can I lack nothing ; and to be-

lieve that goodness and mercy will fol-

low me all the days of my life, and that

I shall dwell in Thy house for ever.

Grant these blessings, O Father, not to

myself alone, but to all who are tried

and tempted by poverty, for I ask them

in the Name of Jesus Christ ; to whom,

with the Holy Spiiit, be all glory.

Amen.


XVIII.

FOE THOSE IN LONELINESS.

O Lord Jesus Clirist, Thou who hadst

not where to lay Thy head, who for mysake didst tread the wine-press alone

;

help me to believe that I am not alone,

for Thou and the Father art with me. I

know that Thou dost allure me and bring

me into the wilderness to speak comfort-

ably to me. Thou hast never been a

wilderness to me. The wilderness and

the solitary place rejoice, and the desert

blossoms as the rose, when I feel that

Thou art with me, that Thy rod and Thystaif comfort me. O Lord, Thou know-

est it is the day of temptation in the

wilderness, and sometimes I do not like

to sit alone and keep silence, I mourn in

my prayer and am troubled, and cry unto

the God that setteth the solitary in fami-

lies, saying. My brother is dead, and I

am left alone, Why am I thus ? I watch


and am alone, as a sparrow on the house-

tops. I wander in the wilderness in a

solitary way, and find no city to dwell

in;yet Thou hast dealt well with Thy

servant according to Thy word, for Thoudost turn the wilderness into a standing

water. Thou plantest fountains in the

midst of the valleys, and turnest the

hard rock into a springing well.

I bless Thy holy name, for all the waywhich Thou hast led me in the wilder-

ness, to humble me, and prove me, and

show me what was in my heart. Thou

art leading me by a right way to the city

of habitation. Thou hast fed me in the

wilderness with manna, that Thou might-

est humble me, and prove me, and do megood at my latter end. Thy way, O God,

is holy. Let Thy hand lead me, and Thyright hand guide me : do with me as

seemeth good in Thy sight ; and when I

depart hence, may I come up out of the

wilderness leaning on my Beloved, and

join the multitude which no man can

number, who have come out of great

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. Yl

tribulation, and waslied their robes, and

made tliem white in the blood of the

Lamb. I commend also unto Thee all

who are lonely. Help them, O Jesus, to

feel that Thou art ever with them, and

therefore they cannot be alone. Amen.

XIX.

m CONFIRMED LONG ILLNESS.*

Look down from Thy throne on high,

O Lord, relieve and comfort Thy servant,

who crieth unto Thee for patience and

endurance in long affliction. It is of Thymercies that I am not consumed, because

Thy compassions fail not, they are newevery morning ; therefore will I hojê in

Thee. Thou art good unto them that

wait for Thee. Enable me to hoj)e and

quietly wait for Thy salvation ; I have

borne this yoke in my youth, and it hath

not passed away. But Thou mlt not

cast off for ever. Thou wilt have compas-

sion according to the multitude of Thy


mercies, for Thou dost not afflict willing-

ly, nor grieve tlie children of men. I

called upon Thy name, O Lord, out of

the low dungeon Thou hast heard myvoice ; hide not Thine ear at my breath-

ing, at my cry. Grant, Lord, that I maylearn obedience by the things which I

have suffered.

O Lord, let me labor to enter into

that rest which remaineth for Thy peo-

ple, and if my patience should fall

away, renew my repentance : strength-

en me upon my bed of languishing, and

make all my bed in my sickness. I

know not the term of my suffering

—

months of vanity and wearisome nights

may be appointed me. I may grow old

in this affliction, and this suffering mayfind no end save in the grave. It maybe that for years my flesh upon me shall

have pain, and my soul within me shall

mourn ; but be Thou with me, Lord,

strengthen me with Thy Holy Spirit to

the last. Make me glad according to

the days Thou hast afflicted me, and the


years wherein I have seen evil. All the

days of my appointed time will I wait

till my change come. I will trust in

Thee, and through the mercy of the Most

High, I shall not be moved. Hear me,

O Lord, in the day of trouble. Send mehelp from the Sanctuary, and strengthen

me out of Zion. Lead me in Thy truth,

and teach me, for Thou art the God of

my salvation ; on Thee do I wait all the

day long. Remember, O Lord, Thy ten-

der mercies, and Thy loving-kindnesses,

for they have been ever of old. Lookupon mine affliction and my pain, and

forgive all my sins. O keep my soul and

deliver me ; let me not be ashamed, for I

put my trust in Thee.

Withhold not Thou Thy tender mer-

cies from me, O Lord, let Thy loving-

kindness and Thy truth continually pre-

serve me. I am poor and needy, but

Thou, O Lord, thinkest upon me. Thouart my help and my deliverer, make no

long tarrying, O my God. For Jesus

Christ's sake. Amen.7


XX.

IN UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE LENGTH ANDTERMINATION OF ILLNESS.*

Heavenly Father, Lord God Almiglity,

all things are known unto Thee.. Not a

sparrow falleth to the ground without

Thee. The very hairs of my head are all

numbered by Thee. Thou knowest the

term of my days ; my times are in Thyhand. Grant me grace in quietness and

in confidence to find my strength ; let

patience possess my soul ; let me resign

myself into Thy hands, to live or to die,

as Thou shalt see best for me. Suspense

troubles my mind, and I would not that

it were troubled. My spirit is over-

whelmed within me, but Thou knowest

my path. Thou art my refuge, in Thee

do I trust ; cause me to know the waywherein I should walk, for I lift up mysoul unto Thee. Let me wait on Thee

all the day long : extend peace to melike a river : as one whom his mother


comforteth, comfort Tliou me in sorrow

and in weakness, in trouble and in lieavi-

ness. Give Thine angels charge over me,

to keep me in all my ways.

I know not, O Lord, whether this sick-

ness leadeth me to a speedy death, a re-

lease from my bondage, or to long years

of suffering and weakness. Lord, I

would not, if T might, determine my lot.

Thou knowest what is best for me ; so

teach me to number my days that I mayapply my heart unto wisdom : if they be

few and evil, open to me the gate of ever-

lasting life : if they be many and op-

pressed by trouble—if my pain be per-

petual, and my wound incurable. Lord

Jesus, be Thou beside me ; endue mewith patience and long-suffering, that

my faith fail not, but may endure to the

end, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribula-

tion.

Thou, Lord, art Lord both of the dead

and of the living ; whether I live or die,

let me be Thine. Hide me under the

shadow of Thy wings. When I walk in


the midst of trouble, do Thou, O Lord,

revive me ; stretch forth Thy right hand

to save me. Perfect, O Lord, that which

concerueth me. Thy mercy, O God, en-

dureth for ever, forsake not the works of

Thine own hands.

Search me, O Lord, and know myheart ; try me, and know my thoughts

;

and see if there be any evil way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting : for

the sake of Thy blessed Son, om* Saviour

Jesus Christ. Amen.

XXL

m THE PROSPECT OF AN INACTIVE LIFE *

Lord Jesus, I cry unto Thee for help.

My soul is troubled, and my flesh know-

eth no rest. When I lie down, I say,

When shall I arise, and the night be

gone ? I am full of tossings to and fro

until the dawning of the day. What is

my strength that I should hope? and

what is mine end that I should prolong

my days ? They are past : my purposes

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 7l

are broken off, even my purposes unto

good. I sougLt to serve Thee, O Lord,

to do Thy will in activity, but Thou hast

chastened me. Thou hast brought this

trouble upon me for my good. Teach

me to do Thy will in Thine own way, OLord, in suffering and in patience. Thou

wiliest not that I should work for Thee

after the counsel of mine own heart.

Thou hast made me of no account ; mydays are as a shade that passeth away.

But, O Lord, I humble myself before

Thee : in faithhfulness Thou hast afflict-

ed me, that I might deny myself, and

take up my cross, and follow Thee.

Lord, I beseech Thee, enable me to pre-

sent myself a living sacrifice, holy and

acceptable unto Thee. Renew my mind,

that I may prove what is that good, and

acceptable, and perfect will of God, that

I may render to Thee a reasonable serv-

ice.

Lord, I am foolish and weak, but Thouhast chosen the foolish things of the

world to confound the wise, and the1*


weak tilings of the world to confound the

things that are mighty ; that no flesh

should glory in Thy presence. Whatam I that I should say, I will do this or

that good work ? Work in me, Lord,

for good. I commit my way unto Thee.

I trust in Thee, and Thou wilt bring it

to pass. In Thy strength alone will I

go forth. Teach me to glory only in

mine infirmities ; casting down imagina-

tions, and every high thing that exalteth

itself against the knowledge of God, and

bringing into captivity every thought to

the obedience of Christ, strengthened

with all might according to His glorious

power, unto all patience and long-suffer-

ing with joyfulness.

Make me perfect, O Lord, in every

good work to do Thy will. Work in

me that which is well-pleasing in Thysight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be

glory for ever and ever. Amen.


XXII.

FOR HELP IN DELIRIUM.*

Fatter of mercies, and God of all com-

fort, I come unto Thee for lielp and guid-

ance in a time of need. My strength fail-

etli me, my mind is wandering : it is like

a wave of the sea driven by the wind and

tossed ; and I know not the words that

may come from my lips, the outpourings

of mine anguish ; but be Thou nigh at

hand, O Lord. Keep Thou the door of

my lips, that they may utter no evil

thing : let no profane or vain babblings

sully them ; but in all my extremity mayI glorify Thee. Put holy and blessed

thoughts into my soul, and help Thoumy infirmities. Let the Spirit of Himwho raised up Jesus from the dead dwell

in me and quicken my mortal body, and

lead me to speak that which is right and

holy, and pure and good. Let the wordof faith be nigh me, even in my mouthand in my heart. Keep my tongue from


evil, and my lips from speaking guile.

Let my tongue mutter no perverseness

:

let me bless the Lord at all times : let

His praise be continually in my mouth.

Instruct me and teach me in the waythat I should go. Imj)ute not iniquity

to me. Forsake me not, O Lord. O myGod, be not far from me. Make haste

to help me, O Lord, my salvation. I amfeeble and sore broken, I am ready to

halt. I can take no more heed to myways, but be Thou with me. Thou art myFather; I am the clay, Thou art the Pot-

ter. Take heed for me that I sin not

with my tongue ; keej) my mouth with a

bridle.

"Withhold not Thou Thy tender mer-

cies from me, O Lord : let Thy loving-

kindness and Thy truth continually pre-

serve me. In the night that darkens mysoul, let Thy song be with me, and myprayer be unto the God of my life : let

me not be cast down and disquieted

within me : let me still hope in Thee

and praise Thee, the health of my coun-


tenance and my God. Eestore unto methe joy of Thy salvation, and uphold mewith Thy free Spirit. Eedeem my soul

from the power of the grave. Whattime I am afraid, let me trust in Thee.

Save and deliver me, O Lord God,Father, Son, and Holy Spiiit, be withme, now and ever. Amen.

XXIII.

FOR HELP IN RESTLESSNESS.

In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust;

let me never be put to confusion, but ridme and deliver me in Thy righteousness.

I have trusted in Thee, O Lord ; I haverested in Thee, and in Thee my soul rests

now. My soul is silent before Thee, OLord

;but my spirit is grieved because of

this restlessness, and that I am so oftentossing to and fro, and seeming to thoseabout me as if my heart were disquietedwithin me. Lord, Thou knowest all

things, Thou knowest that my spirit is

S2 PRAYERS FOR THE SICK.

at rest, though the flesh is weak. Butman looketh on the outward appearance,

and cannot tell how much I desire that

even the quietness of my body should

show forth Thy praise.

I would lie still, but I cannot do this

of myself; Thou canst enable me to do

it ; Thou canst keep me from saying, in

the morning. Would God it were even-

ing ! and in the evening. Would God it

were morning ! Thoa canst keep mefrom that restlessness which distresses

me, and which makes me wish so often

to change my posture, and to change myplace, if it were possible. I cannot resist

this alone ; I have not strength even to

hide from others the pain that I feel.

Be Thou my stronghold, whereunto I

may alway resort ; Thou hast j^romised

to help me, for Thou art my house of

defence and my castle. Go not far from

me, O God! My God, haste Thee to

help me. O help me to abide patiently,

and to praise Thee ever more and more.

Thou art my only help in time of need

;


help me to fly unto Thee for succor,

whenever this restlessness comes on. Themore the outward man decayeth, so muchthe more, O Lord, I shall need that Thouwouldst strengthen me continually with

Thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner

man. To him that hath no might, Thouhast promised to increase strength. Omy Father, when the last hour draws

near, I pray Thee in great mercy then

help me to lie still, and to feel the ever-

lasting arms underneath me, supporting,

and strengthening, and comforting me.

If I speak, grant that they may be peace-

ful and holy words ; if I am silent, mayI rest wholly in Thee, and then I shall

not be confounded. Hear my prayer,

also, O Lord, for all who suffer in this

way, and grant to them the blessings

which I have asked for myself, in the

name and for the sake of Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.


XXIV.

IN THE PROSPECT OF AN OPERATION*

Jesus, my Kedeemer, my Saviour, Thouwlio didst not despise tlie Cross, but didst

yield Thyself to the tormentors, who didst

drink of the cup of sorrow willingly, yet

didst taste of its bitterness, be Thou with

me in the hour of my agony ; strengthen

me to bear all that shall be laid upon

me : in every pang may my spirit still

have power to say with Thee, Not mywill, but Thine be done.

For the thing which I greatly feared is

come upon me, and that which I was

afraid of is come unto me. But I will

cast my burden upon Thee ; O Lord, do

Thou sustain me. From the end of the

earth will I cry unto Thee, when myheart is overwhelmed : lead me to the

rock that is higher than I. Give megrace, O Lord, to yield up my vnll into

Thy hands, to trust in Thee, in Thymight, and in Thy providence, rather


than in the skill of man. Do Tbou bless

it, Lord, if so it seemeth good in Thysight, for my relief; but if not, if it

should be in vain, let me still bless and

praise Thee, and submit myself to Thygood pleasure. Let me go to this trial

in the strength of the Lord God, com-

mitting myself to Him that judgeth

righteously. Lord, it may be that this

remedy shall fail ; then, let patience have

its perfect work in me. It may be that

it shall open to me the gates of life, that

this light affliction, which is but for a

moment, may work for me a far more

exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Even so. Father, if so it seemeth good in

Thy sight.

Only, whether I live or die, let me be

Thine, O Lord, and know Christ and the

power of His resurrection, and the fel-

lowship of His sufferings, being madeconformable unto His death, who shall

change our vile body, that it may be

fashioned like unto His glorious body,

according to the working whereby He is

8


able even to subdue all tilings unto Him-

self. Into Thy bauds I commend myself,

O Lord God of my salvation. Amen.

XXV.

IN GREAT WEAKNESS.

Lord, Thou hast said that to him

that hath no might, Thou dost increase

strength. I have no strength : have

mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.

I am brought low, even unto the dust

of death. I am poured out like water.

Attend unto my cry, for I am brought

very low.

1 know that I must pass through this

weakness. I do not ask Thee, O Lord,

to renew the strength of my body. I

am content to do Thy will, to be low in

a low place. Yet, O Holy Father, let it

be Thy pleasure to deliver my soul. OLord Jesus Christ, it was when Thou wast

an hungered, that the devil came and

tempted Thee ; he tempts me now in my


weakness to doubt Thy love, and to think

that a strange thing has happened to me.

By Thine hours of weakness, blessed

Jesus, deliver me.

By Thy faintness and exhaustion,

By Thine aching frame,

By Thy failing strength.

By Thy wearied spirit.

Blessed Jesus, deliver me.

When fainting by the way—in sick-

ness and sorrow.

Most merciful Jesus, deliver me

;

From murmuring thoughts.

From forgetfulness of Thy love.

From speaking hastily, or in anger.

From pride and self-will.

From self-indulgence and self-pleasing,

From impatience under crosses.

Blessed Jesus, save and deliver me.

Speak unto my soul and say. The bat-

tle is not yours, but God's. O LordGod, fight for me and help me to hold

my peace.


I know, O my Father, that my streDgth

is to be still ; but I want to feel Thystrength. Help me to believe that the

Eternal God is my refuge, and that un-

derneath me are the everlasting arms,

that Thou wilt thrust out the enemy be-

fore me, saying, Destroy them.

Help me to rest in Thy love. Thouknowest that I love Thee, but let meshow forth my love to Thee ^ let others

take knowledge that I have been with

Jesus, that He is with me now, even in

this dark vallev ; let them see that the

Holy Ghost, the Comforter, is with me.

Grant this, O Father, not to me alone,

but to all who are weak, for Jesus

Christ's sake. Amen.

XXVI.

IN GREAT WEAKNESS AND INABILITY TOPRAY.

O Lord, to whom all hearts be open,

and from whom no desires are hid, hear

the voice of my desire. I look up unto


Thee, my lieart panteth, my flesli faileth,

my thoughts are as water spilt upon the

ground which cannot be gathered up. I

am poured out like water. O Lord, for-

sake me not when my strength faileth. I

am as a man that hath no strength. Myheart is smitten, and withered like grass,

my bones cleave to my skin. O Lord,

my spirit waxeth faint, for Thou hast

added grief to my sorrow : I fainted in

my sighing, and I find no rest. Thou

hast sent a faintness into my heart, so

that the sound of a shaken leaf chases

me : I have no power to stand before myenemies. I have fainted, and wished in

myself to die, and said. It is better for

me to die than live. Yet when my soul

fainted in me, I remembered the Lord,

and my prayer came in unto Thee, into

Thine holy temple. Let the voice of mybreathing come unto Thee.

O Lord, Thou hast said that when the

poor and needy seek water, and there is

none, and their tongue faileth for thirst,

Thou wilt hear them, and Thou, the God8*


of Israel, will not forsake them. I would

not faint now tliat I am rebuked of Thee

;

but I cannot lift up the hands which hang

down, and the feeble knees. Increase

strength to me, O my Father, for I have

no might. The earthly house of mytabernacle is being dissolved. Grant

that I may faint not : though the out-

ward man perish, let the inward man be

renewed day by day. Out of weakness

may I be made strong. Though I amvery weak, yet, O Lord Jesus, may I be

weak in Thee, and with Thee, who,

though Thou wast crucified through

weakness, yet now livest by the power

of God.

Grant, O Lord, that whilst I lie here

on this bed, and cannot think one

thought of my own, or say any words

of prayer, I may be found in Thee, not

having mine own righteousness.

O Jesus, pray for me, for I am Thine.

Be Thou glorified in me. Keep me fiôm


evil. Sanctify me tlirougli Thy truth.

Do Thou answer for me, O Lord myGod. O Holy Spirit, make intercession

for me with groanings which cannot be

uttered, and help me to feel that it is

good for me that I am afflicted and

brought so very low, that I may cease

from my own works and be crucified

with Christ. Grant these blessings, OLord, to me and to all who are suffering

with me in this trial of great weakness.

In the hour of death, and in the day of

judgment, good Lord, deliver us, for the

sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

xxviL ;^

m GREAT SICKNESS.

O Lord, I know that the way of manis not in himself, it is not in man that

walketh to direct his steps. Thou hast

hedged in my way. The thing which I

greatly feared is come upon me, and that

which I was afraid of is come unto me.


I was not in safety, neitlier had I rest,

neither was I quiet, yet trouble came.

It is come upon me, and I faint ; it

toucheth me, and I am troubled. Tlie

things that my soul refused to touch are

as my sorrowful meat. Even to-day is

my complaint bitter, my stroke is heavier

than my groaning. Show me wherefore

Thou contendest with me. Wilt Thou

contend against me with Thy great

power ? No ; Thou wilt put strength

into me. Thou knowest the way that I

take ; and when Thou hast tried me I

shall come forth as gold. Thou art in

one mind, and who can turn Thee ? and

what Thy soul desireth, even that Thoudoest. For Thou performest the thing

that is appointed for me.

I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments

are right, and that Thou, of very faithful-

ness, hast afflicted me. Let, I pray Thee,

Thy word be for my comfort, for no

chastening for the present seemeth to be

joyous, but grievous ; O make it after-

ward to yield the peaceable fruits of right-


eousness to me who am exercised thereby.

Do Thou strengthen my weak hands, and

confirm my feeble knees. Say to me,

who am of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear

not. Come and save me, O Lord : help

me to believe that these light afflictions

are but for a moment, and that they will

work out for me a far more exceeding and

eternal weight of glory. May I look not

at the things which are seen, but at the

things which are unseen ; for the things

which are seen are temporal, but the

things which are unseen are eternal.

Grant this, O Lord, to me and to all

who are sick, for the sake of Jesus Christ,

our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

XXVIII.

IN SORE TROUBLE.

O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou wast

in an agony Thou didst pray the more

earnestly, help me now to pray. I amin an agony, O Lord, but I cannot pray,


for my spirit waxeth faint, and my soul

is sore troubled, tlie enemy cometh on so

fast. I am feeble and sore broken.

When I cry and shout, Thou shuttest

out my prayer ; it cannot pass, for mine

iniquities are gone over my head, and

are too heavy for me to bear. Mine ene-

mies live and are mighty ; they say unto

my soul. There is no help for thee in God.

O Lord, how long? Let it be Thy pleas-

ure to deliver my soul. When I cry unto

Thee, then shall my enemies be turned

back. But, O Lord, they daily return,

and they be many that fight against me,

O Thou most High.

Save me, O God, for the waters are

come in unto my soul. I stick fast in

deep miiê where there is no standing. I

am come into deep waters where the

floods overflow me. I am weary of mycrying, my throat is dried, mine eyes fail

while I wait for my God. O God, Thou

knowest my foolishness, and my sins are

not hid from Thee. Deliver me out of

the mire, and let me not sink ; let me be

PKAYERS FOR THE SICK. 95

delivered from them that hate me, and

out of the deep waters. Hear me, OLord, for Thy loving-kindness is good

;

turn to me according to the multitude

of Thy tender mercies, and hide not Thyface from Thy servant, for I am in trou-

ble. Hear me speedily, I am poor and

sorrowful. For Thou hearest prayer.

Thou despisest not the prisoners. I will

yet praise Thee, and will magnify Thee

with thanksgiving ; and will say with

my whole heart, Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost

;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and

ever shall be : world without end.

Amen.

XXIX.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE VERY ILL.

O Saviour of sinners, who camest to

seek and to save that which was lost,

have mercy upon me. Thine arrows

stick fast in me, and Thy hand presseth

me sore. In the cutting off of my days,


I shall go to tlie gates of the grave, I amdeprived of tlie residue of my years. I

shall behold man no more, with the in-

habitants of the world. Thou wilt cut

me off with pining sickness ; but let it

be Thy pleasure to deliver my soul. Olet my soul live, and it shall praise Thee

:

in Thy favor is light : in Thy light let

me see light. I know, O Lord, that Thyjudgments are right, and that Thou of

very faithfulness hast caused me to be

troubled. I have not shrunk fi-om Thyjudgments, for Thou teachest me. That

which I see not, teach Thou me. It is

good for me that I have been afflicted,

that I might learn Thy statutes. But,

O Lord, I am oppressed, undertake for

me. They be many that fight against

me, O Thou most High. Neverthe-

less, though I am sometimes afraid,

yet put I my trust in Thee. Thou art

my Helper and Redeemer. O Lord,

make no long tarrying ; enable me, and

all who are very ill, to embrace and ever

to hold fast the blessed hope of everlast-


ing life wMcli Thou hast given us in our

Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

XXX.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN WAY TOIRRITABILITY.

Jesus, my Saviour, my Redeemer, 1

have sinned against heaven and in Thysight, I have spoken unadvisedly with

my lips, and sinned with my tongue ; I

have been angry without a cause, and

have grieved Thy Holy Spirit. I said

in my haste, words that I ought not to

have said ; I did not cease from anger,

or forsake wrath. Against Thee have I

sinned, O Lord, for Thou hast said. Let

all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and

clamor, and evil-speaking be put away,

and be ye kind one to another. I have

provoked one of Thy servants to anger,

and thus I have sinned against my ownsoul. Holy Father, I dare not plead be-

fore Thee that I did not mean the words7


that I said ; for if I had set Thee, the

Lord, continually before me, I should not

have spoken these words ; if I had set a

watch before my mouth, and kept the

door of my lips, I should never have

spoken these hasty words. I dare not

plead with Thee, O Lord, that my pain

made me speak so hastily; for Thou didst

send the pain, and I know that Thoucanst send the strength to bear it. OLord, I declare my iniquity, I am sorry

for my sin ; and Thou hast said, that if

we confess our sins, Thou art faithful and

just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse

us from all unrighteousness. Have mercy

upon me, O Lord, after Thy great good-

ness, and according to Thy loving-kind-

ness do away mine offences. O blessed

Jesus, by Thy Cross and Passion, by Thyprecious death and burial, by Thy glo-

rious resurrection and ascension, and by

the coming of the Holy Ghost, have

mercy upon me. Give Thy heavenly

blessing to her whose heart I have dis-

couraged, and whose spirit is sore vexed.


Let her not, O Lord God of Hosts, be

ashamed for my cause. Let not those

that seek Thee be confounded through

me, O Lord God of Israel ; and from

henceforth may I show forth Thy power

with all patience and long-suffering.

Speak unto me, O Lord, and let me hear

Thy Yoice saying, Thy sins are forgiven

thee : go, and sin no more. Vouchsafe,

O Lord, to keep me this day without

sin, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

XXXL

FOR THOSE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS.

O Lord my God, help me to feel that

Thy hand is leading me, that Thy right

hand is guiding me. Thou knowest the

way that I take, and when Thou hast

tried me I shall come forth as gold. Let

me feel that it is Thou Thyself, my Fa-

ther, who art leading me through this

great and terrible wilderness. I can see

the pillar of the cloud sometimes going

475928


before me ; but I walk on in darkness,

having no light.

Even now, O Lord, help me to stay

myself on Thee, to flee unto Thee, to hide

me in the rock, and in the holes of the

rock. I do not ask to see light here, if

that is not Thy holy will. I ask only

that I may submit myself wholly to Thywill and pleasure, and cry, Jesus Son of

David, have mercy upon me. Lord, help

mine unbelief. I have been searching

and trying Thy ways, O Lord, and have

forgotten that it is the glory of God to

conceal a thing ; and therefore Thou hast

made my way dark and slippery.

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned

and done this evil in Thy sight;yet have

mercy upon me after Thy great goodness,

and do away mine offences. With mywhole heart have I sought Thee, O let

me not go wrong from Thy command-

ments. Before I was in trouble I went

wrong, but now I desire to keep Thyword.

O Lord, I do not ask for the life of my


body ; but let my soul live, and it shall

praise Thee. In Thy favor is life, and

my life is hid with Christ. Grant that

I may indeed know in whom I have be-

lieved.

If Thou wilt, O Lord, be pleased to lift

up the light of Thy countenance upon

me, and grant me peace. But if it is not

Thy good pleasure to deliver my soul

here, help me to say from my heart.

Though Thou dost slay me, yet will I

trust in Thee. And when the earthly

house of this tabernacle is dissolved, then

may my eyes see the King in His beauty,

because He has washed me from my sins

in His own blood. Amen.

XXXII.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN GODIN TIME OF HEALTH.

O Lord, I have heard Thy speech, and

was afraid, for I have forgotten Thee

;

how shall I come and appear before Thy


presence ? Yet in wrath remember mer-

cy. Thou hast chastised me, and I was

chastised ; but, Lord, I am like a bullock

unaccustomed to the yoke. I thought

that Thou wast a hard master, reaping

where Thou hadst not sown, gathering

where Thou hadst not strewed ; and I

went and hid my talent in the earth.

I thought to remember Thee, and to

call upon Thee whenever sickness came,

and that I should have time then to

make my peace with Thee, and might go

on enjoying myself until then. It is

come upon me now, and I am shut up,

I cannot go forth, and none of those

things which I have so delighted in give

me any comfort. Desire hath failed

;

and those who would come to amuse or

comfort me, miserable comforters are they

all. O Lord, I am afraid ; I dare not

lift up my eyes, or pray to Thee, for I

have forgotten Thee ever since I became

a man (woman). I was taught about

Thee when I was a child ; but I put

away those thoughts as childish things,

PEAYEES FOR THE SICK. 103

and now I cannot pray. I tliouglit it

would be easy whenever illness should

come upon me. O Lord, I have de-

stroyed myself: sickness is come, and I

am too weak to think, and my mind is

taken up with my pains, and I cannot

seek Thee as I would. I put it off to

a more convenient season, and now what

shall I do ? where shall I hide myself

from Thy presence if I die ?

O spare my life, spare me yet a little

longer, that I may try to seek Thee. 1

have heard that Thou art a God willing

to pardon iniquity, and that the blood

of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.

O pardon my sin, especially the sin of

having forgotten Thee for so many years

;

and teach me now about Thyself, and all

that I need to learn ; and, O Lord, let menot die until my sins are pardoned, and I

have found that there is mercy with Thee.

Lord, teach me to pray : O let me live,

and I will try to serve Thee better. Othat I had remembered. Thee, that I might

have hope and comfort now.

104 PEAYERS FOE THE SICK.

Sickness presses liard -upon me. OLord, I cannot pray, I cannot understand

Thy holy Word, yet, O Lord, have mercy

upon me ; Christ, have mercy upon me;

and do not leave me to perish now that

Thou hast shown me that I am a sinner

:

teach me all that I need to learn, and for-

give all my sin, for the sake of Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

XXXIII.

FOR THE BACKSLIDER IN HEART.

Eighteous art Thou, O Lord, yet let

me plead with Thee of Thy judgments.

I have hewn out for myself cisterns,

broken cisterns, which can hold no

water, and have departed from the liv-

ing God. O Lord, Thy sentence has

justly come upon me,—The backslider

in heart shall be filled with his own

ways ; and Thou hast added grief unto

my sorrow : I fainted in my sighing, and

I find no rest. O that it were with me


as in months tliat are past, wlien tlie

candle of the Lord shined up6n me, and

by His light I walked through dark-

ness ! O that I knew where I might

find Him : I go forward, but He is not

there ; and backward, but I cannot per-

ceive Him ; on the left hand, where Hedoth work, but I cannot behold Him.

Yet I cannot be forgotten before Him

;

for He hath hedged up my way with

thorns, so that I cannot get out. I fol-

lowed after my idols, but I could not

overtake them. I forgot the Lord myMaker until He sent me this pining sick-

ness, and called my sins to remembrance

;

and now I remember my ways and all

my doings wherein I have been defiled

;

and I loathe myself in my own sight for

all the evils that I have committed. I

will return unto the Lord, for I have

greatly sinned. O Lord, wilt Thou plead

against me with Thy great power? Wilt

Thou not put strength into me ? For there

is forgiveness vnth Thee, that Thoumight-

est be feared : Thou art plenteous in


mercy, O turn Thee, and have mercy

upon me ; for I am in trouble. Thou

dost chasten me in measure ; I thank

Thee that Thou dost not leave me wholly

unpunished, and hast not yet said, Whyshould ye be stricken any more ? ye will

revolt more and more.

O God, give me grace to be zealous

and repent. I have lived in pleasure,

and been dead w^hilst I lived, and have

grieved the Holy Spirit;

yet, O Lord,

Thou hast not quite left me. Who is a

God like unto Thee, that pardoneth ini-

quity ? Pardon mine iniquity, for it is

great. I hear Thy voice speaking to menow by this sickness, saying unto me, I

will allure thee, and bring thee into the

wilderness. I do not ask Thee to speak

comfortably to me, but to give me repent-

ance ; for I have sinned against Thee,

and am no more worthy to be called Thyson. Chasten me, O Lord, as Thou seest

best for me ; but O suffer me not to de-

part from Thee again. May I from this

time cry unto Thee, My Father, Thou art

PRAYERS FOR THE SIOK. lOY

my guide ; and may I follow on to know

the Lord, and walk in holiness as long

as Thou wiliest that I should stay here

on earth.

Grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ's

sake. Amen.

XXXIV.

FOR THOSE WHO FEAR THEY MAY HAVEBEEN DECEIVED.

O Lord God, my soul is sore amazed,

and I am brought into great trouble.

The end of all things seems at hand to

me ; and I fear lest even at last I should

be weighed in the balance and found

wanting. O if Thou shouldest east meoff, then I should have no place to flee

unto ; for whither can I go from Thypresence ? If I said to the mountains

and to the rocks. Fall upon me, and hide

me from the face of Him that sitteth uponthe Throne, and fiôm the wrath of the

Lamb, I could not flee from Thy pres-

ence, for the darkness hideth not from


Thee. I thouglit I was Thy child, OLord, and that I loved Thee ; but mylove is so cold that I sometimes fear that

I never have loved Thee at all, and have

deceived myself.

O speak to me, and say unto my soul

that my sins are forgiven, that Thou hast

blotted them out for THdc own name's

sake. If I have never come to Thee be-

fore, help me to come now at the eleventh

hour. Give me true repentance, and let

me not deceive myself in any way.

Search me, O God, and know my heart

;

try me and know my thoughts, and see

if there be any wicked way in me, and

lead me into the way everlasting. Lord,

help my unbelief. Give me even now to

believe that the blood of Jesus Christ

cleanseth from all sin. And though I

may have but a short time to live, let

me feel hope that Thou hast heard myprayer. O, blessed Jesus, who didst

hear the prayer of the thief on the cross,

hear my prayer. Graciously look on myaffliction, and say unto me that my sin is

PKAYEKS FOR THE SICK. 109

forgiven^ and mine iniquity is covered,

and that Thou wilt not impute my trans-

gressions to me ; and then, Lord Jesus,

receive my spirit. Amen.

xxxy.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROMWANDERINGS OF MIND IN WEAKNESS.

O God of love, by Thy great and end-

less pity attend unto my cry, for I ambrought very low. Hear the voice of mygroaning, for my groaning is not hid fi'om

Thee. I try to show before Thee mytrouble, but my thoughts run hither and

thither unto the ends of the earth. I

call ujDon Thee daily, and in the night

season make my prayer unto Thee ; and

I know that Thou dost not count mywords as vain, though they seem so to

me. O Lord, the loftiness of man Thoulayest low, that Thou alone mayest be

exalted in that day ; I believe that this

is the day of Thy visitation, and that

Thou alone wilt be exalted, and I must


be abased ; I thank Thee, O Lord of

heaven and earth, for this chastening.

It is thus that Thou wilt reveal Thyself

to me, and show me things which were

hidden fiôm me, when I thought that I

was wise and prudent.

O Lord God, Thou knowest that 1

woukl keep my mind always stayed on

Thee, and that my heart would always

talk with Thee. Have mercy upon me,

for I am weak. I put my fall trust only

in Thy mercy, and abide under the shad-

ow of Thy wings ; Thou wouldest have

me to do so ; in this I cannot err from

Thy commandments. O my Father,

Thou hast made the keepers of the house

to tremble, and the strong man to bowhimself. I cannot remember even Thywords ; I cannot meditate in Thy stat-

utes, though my delight is in Thy law.

Do Thou work all Thy works in me : if

Thou dost work, none can hinder it. Asfor me, T am poor and needy, but the

PRAYEKS FOR THE SICK. Ill

Lord careth for me. How precious are

Thy thouglits unto me, O God ! they are

more precious unto me than gold, yea,

than most iine gold.

O Lord Jesus, Thou didst promise to

Thy disciples that the Holy Spirit should

bring all things to their remembrance

whatsoever Thou hadst spoken to them,

I ask only to remember Thy words, not

my words, or my prayers, or anything

that has been spoken to me, except what

Thou wiliest that I should remember.

Accept my memory, my understand-

ing, my entire will. "Whatsoever I have

or possess. Thou hast of Thy bounty be-

stowed upon me. All this I restore unto

Thee, and surrender it to be disposed of

according to Thy will. Only give melove for Thee along with Thy grace, and

I am rich enough ; I ask for nothing

more. And as I am not alone in this

trial, have pity on all who are suffering

from it, and bless it to us all. Grant


unto us these blessings, O Holy Trinity,

and we will alway give thanks unto

Thee. Amen.

XXXVI.

FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THE DIFFICULTY OFPRAYER IN WEAKNESS.

Lord, teach me to pray. I know not

what I should pray for. Let Thy Spirit

help mine infirmities. I am feeble and

sore smitten. O my Father, before I was

afflicted I went up into Thy temple to

pray, and joined with the multitude that

kept holy day. But it was often the

prayer of the Pharisee which I said there.

I thank Thee for having abased and hum-

bled me, and made me to know that I

can of my own self do nothing. Lord,

teach me to pray ; teach me what is the

prayer which Thou wilt hear. I come to

Thee as a little child to rest in Thy love.

God be merciful to me a sinner.

PEAYEKS FOR THE SICK. 113

O Lord, in time past I have wearied

Thee with words ; but now I have no

words to bring,my thoughts are as water

spilt upon the ground, which cannot be

gathered up. Thou hast said. Watchand pray, lest ye enter into temptation,

O Jesus, say for me now what in Thylove and pity Thou didst say for Thydisciples : The spirit indeed is willing,

but the flesh is weak. My eyes are very

heavy ; and when I try to watch and

pray. Thou comest and finderV me asleep.

O Lord Jesus, my comfort is, that Thouhast entered within the veil, there to

make intercession for me. O Lord, unto

whom all hearts be opened, and from

whom no desires are hid, cleanse the

thoughts of my heart, and hear the voice

of my humble desire, the voice of mybreathing.

Help me, Lord Jesus, to ask the same

blessings for all that are sick and dying

;

and do Thou pray for us, that we all maybe one in Thee, as Thou and the Father

art one. Amen.

114 PKAYEES FOE THE SICK.

xxxvn.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN UPWITH THE CARES OF THIS LIFE, ANDBEEN OVER ANXIOUS.

O Lord God, Tliou hast laid affliction

upon me, Thou hast call me aside. I

know it is Thy voice speaking to me,

but as yet I cannot say, My ears hast

Thou opened ; they are dull of hearing.

Show me wherefore Thou hast afflicted

me. Have I not served Thee, O Lord

;

I have gone with the multitude to Thyhouse, I have kept holy day, I gave tithes

of all I possessed, I fed the poor, and

what lack I yet ? O Lord, I hear Thyvoice saying to me, thou art rich and in-

creased in goods, yet knowest not that

thou art miserable, and poor, and blind.

O teach me to buy of Thee gold that I

may be rich. I know that when earthly

riches increased, I set my heart upon

them ; but I did not feel till now howsinfal it was to do so. The cares of this


world sprang up and choked the good

seed. I thought I was serving Thee in

all this, by doing what was right to myfamily ; but this sickness says to me,

Seekest thou great things for thyself?

seek them not. O Lord, turn away mine

eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken

me according to Thy word. My heart is

disquieted within me. O God, I wish to

be still, but I am careful and troubled

about many things. I know that one

thing is needful, but my thoughts are

busy about the things of this life. I amtroubled above measure ; teach me howto be careful for nothing, but in every-

thing to give thanks ; teach me how to

cast all my care upon Thee, for Thoucarest for me. Grant that Thy peace

may rule in my heart and mind. O teach

me how, with prayer, and supplication,

and thanksgiving, to let my requests be

made known unto Thee. And if it be

Thy holy will that I should recover mybodily health, may I try to live moresimply for Thee, and as in Thy sight

;


may my modeiâtion be known unto all

men, and may I ever remember that the

Lord is at hand.

Forgive my past sins, O Lord, and myforgetfalness of Thee. May I ever give

Thee thanks, that Thou didst call measide, and draw my heart nearer to Thy-

self. O let me not forget Thee, if I go

forth into the world again. Let not

these prayers rise up in judgment against

me, but spare me, good Lord, and lead

me into Thy truth and teach me, from

this time forth, and for evermore, for I

ask all in the name and for the sake of

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen,

XXXVIIL

FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THE WANT OFSYMPATHY.*

Lord, I am desolate and oppressed,

hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.

I am alone, bereft of human sympathy,

but Thou art with me. Thy rod and

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK. 11^7

Thy staff they comfort me. Thou know-

est my down-sitting and mine uprising;

Thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou hast known my reproach, and myshame, and my dishonor. Reproach hath

broken my heart ; and I am full of heavi-

ness : I looked for some to take pity, but

there was none ; and for comforters, but

I found none. They sought to strength-

en me with their mouth, and that the

moving of their lips should assuage mygrief; but they vex my soul, and break

me in pieces with words. They under-

stand not my griefs ; the bitterness of myheart is hidden from them. They are

physicians of no value, the soreness of

my wounds they cannot heal; but Thou,

O Lord God, heavenly Father, Thou art

my help ; leave me not, neither forsake

me, O God of my salvation. I had faint-

ed unless I had believed to see the good-

ness of the Lord in the land of the living.

O how great is Thy goodness which Thouhast laid up for them that fear Thee

;

which Thou hast wrought for them that


trust in Tliee before the sons of men

!

Hide me, O Lord, in tlie secret of Thypresence, from the pride of man, keep mesecretly in Thy pavilion from the strife

of tongues.

Thou, O Lord Jesus, Saviour of the

world, wast despised and rejected of men,

oppressed and afflicted, bruised and put

to grief; for the Lord laid on Thee the

iniquity of us all. Thou wilt not leave

me comfortless. Thou wilt come unto me.

Who shall separate us fiôm Thy love ?

shall tribulation, or distress, or persecu-

tion, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or

sword ?

Let the sense of my loneliness here

draw me nigher Thee, O my Saviour ; let

it not breed any bitterness in mine heart

toward my fellow-creatures ; but let mebe tender-hearted and forgiving, gentle

unto all men, apt to teach, patient ; re-

membering mine own infirmities, and

committing myself to Him who judgeth

righteously. In Thy name and to a lov-

ing Father I make my prayer. Amen.


XXXIX.

THAT SUFFERING MAY NOT PRODUCESELFISHNESS.*

Grant, O Lord God, merciful Fatter,

that this \asitation may turn to my salva-

tion, that I may consider my ways, and

root out the spirit of evil, the love of self;

that in the extremity of anguish, I maynot shut my heart against the sufferings

of others ; that I may not look only on

my own things, but on the things of

others, remembering that God so loved

us that He sent His Son to be the pro-

pitiation for our sins, to be wounded for

om^ transgressions, and bruised for our

iniquities, and to lay down His life for

us ; and that if God so loved us, we ought

also to love one another. O Lord, let

this chastisement enable me more entirely

to suffer with them that suffer, to soothe

their sorrows, to have compassion on

theii' infirmities, to love them, not in


word or in tongue, but in deed and in

truth. Lord, I fear lest my lieart should

grow hardened, and I should shut up mybowels of compassion from my suffering

brethren ; lest the sense of mine ownpangs, and the tender indulgence of

those around me, should lead me to think

only of myself, to be unmindful of them,

to dwell only on my own afflictions, and

to think lightly of the far greater trials

that others are called to suffer.

Give me, O Lord, that most excellent

gift of charity, the bond of perfectness,

that I may put on, as the elect of God,

bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness

of mind, meekness, long-suffering, bearing

others' burdens, seeking by sympathy to

soothe and lighten them ; as I have op-

portunity, doing good unto all men, espe-

cially unto them that are of the house-

hold of faith ; not weary in well-doing;

that being rooted and grounded in love

I may be able to comprehend, with all

saints, what is the breadth, and length,

and depth, and height, and to know the


love of Clirist wliicli passeth knowledge;

that I may be filled with all the fulness

of God. Now unto Him that is able to

do exceeding abundantly above all that

we ask or think, according to the powerthat worketh in us, unto Him be glory

in the Church, by Christ Jesus, through-

out all ages ; world without end. Amen.

XL.

FOR THE AGED.

Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-

place in all generations. With long life

hast Thou satisfied me, and shown meThy salvation. I thank Thee, O myFather, for all the blessings of this life,

for all the many mercies which Thouhast given me ; they are more in num-

ber than the sand. Bless the Lord, Omy soul, and forget not all His benefits.

Thou hast redeemed my life from destruc-

tion, and crowned me with mercy and

loving-kindness ; and I look back on all

122 PEAYEES FOE TPIE SICK.

tlie way by wHcli Thou hast led me, and

see that it was the right way to the city

of habitation. I thank TLee for all that

Thou hast given me, and for all that

Thou hast taken away, and for all the

sorrows which have led me to Thee.

Teach me now to number my days,

that I may apply my heart unto wisdom.

O my Father, I need Thy help now more

than I ever needed it before ; for though

by reason of strength, the days of myyears are fourscore years, yet is mystrength but labor and sorrow. The

years are come in which I say, I have no

pleasure in them ; the keepers of the

house tremble, the strong men bow them-

selves, the grinders cease because they

are few, and those that look out of the

windows are darkened. I am often afraid

of that which is high, and fears are in

the way. O God, Thou knowest those

fears, how many they are ; not one is un-

noticed by Thee ; and Thou pitiest me,

though I seem to others so weak and

foolish. Desire has failed ; I cannot tell


what I wish for, my thoughts change,

and my judgment is very slow.

The grasshopper is a burden ; every

thing now is a weariness to the flesh. Omy Father, Thou knowest how very hard

this is for me to bear. Thou knowest

how often these things tempt me to be

angry and impatient, and to think that

other people are unkind to me. Help

me to be patient under these sufferings,

Lord ; to feel that it is Thy will that

1 should bear them ; and when I amtempted to be hasty, or to think that

those about me are slow, and not trying

to please me, may I try to be dumb and

to keep silence, because it is Thy doing.

O keep the door of my mouth, and let

no angry, or impatient, or complaining

words proceed out of it. And do Thougrant unto me that I may bring forth

fi-uit in my old age, to show that Thouart upright, and that Thou art my Rock.

Help me to remember how many are

suffering as I am : may I feel for them,

and pray for them ; and when it shall


please Thee, wilt Tliou so fetch us home,

blessed Lord, that we may be saved

through the merits of Christ Jesus our

Saviour. Amen.

XLI.

FOR ONE AFFLICTED WITH BLINDNESS.

O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou wast

upon earth, Thou didst give sight to the

blind, and Thou carest for them still

;

have mercy upon me, Jesus, Thou Son of

David. I do not ask Thee to give meback the sight which it was Thy holy

will to take from me ; but, O Lord, I ask

to have patience under this suffering. I

ask to be made quite willing to bear it

so long as I live. Keep me, I pray Thee,

from all fretfal thoughts, from all mur-

muring, from sad thoughts when I amalone and have no outward things to

cheer me.

Help me to remember the many mer-

cies which Thou hast given me, and the


blessings and comforts whicli are still

granted to me. Thou knowest how muchI have loved, when the winter was past,

to see the flowers appear, and the face of

the earth renewed. O my Father, I shall

behold these things no more, with the

inhabitants of the earth ; and sometimes,

because of this, mine eyes weep sore, and

I am troubled above measure.

O Almighty God, who alone canst

order the unruly wills and affections of

sinful men, so order my will that it shall

have no variance from Thy will, and that

my w^hole heart may say. Thy will be

done.

My heart's desire and prayer to Thee

is, that as Thou hast closed my eyes to

all earthly things. Thou wouldest open

the eyes of my mind, that I may see

Thee, O Lord : and as the remembrance

of the sight of earthly things fades away,

may I see heavenly things more and

more clearly; may I endure, as seeing

Him who is invisible, and feel that,

whereas I was blind, now I see. O mer-


cifal God, Thou knowest all the Mn-

drances and temptations wliicli this trial

brings, and yet Thou never takest away

one blessing, without giving more than

Thou takest away. Give me to see Thee,

O Lord ; draw me nearer to Thee each

day, and make me to feel the greatness

of Thy love, and this shall comfort me.

Have mercy upon all who are blind, and

give them the same blessings which I ask

for myself, for the sake of Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

XLIL

FOR ONE AFFLICTED WITH DEAFNESS.

O blessed Jesus, Thou who didst Thy-

self take our in&mities, that Thou might-

est understand them, and be a merciful

and faithful High Priest: Thou knowest

my infirmity, for Thou hast sent it to me.

Almighty God, have mercy, for this is a

very grievous trial to me. I can no more

hear the voice of joy and melody ; and


wlien I go up to the house of the Lord, I

cannot hear the voice of prayer and of

thanksgi\dng, for I am a deaf man, which

heareth not. And when my children are

gathered around me, I cannot hear their

voices, which used to gladden me. It is

only when I am alone that I forget myinfirmity ; Thou knowest. Lord, whattemptations and trials it brings to me.

O keep me from all unkind, and unlov-

ing, and suspicious thoughts of others

;

keep me from all complaining ; deliver mefrom murmuring thoughts, from causing

my trials to be a trial to others;

gra-

ciously prevent it, O Lord, from making

my temper irritable or trying to others.

O keep my soul, and deliver me ; do not

let me sin against Thee, or wish my lot

or my trial different to what Thou hast

ordained it. And when I am with

others, may I be always cheerful, and

remember that, though I seem to myself

then the most solitary, I am never alone,

for Thou aii; with me. Thy rod and Thystaff they comfort me. Help me to look


forward witli thanksgiving to the day

when the ears of the deaf shall be un-

stopped, and though with my outward

ears I can hear no more, yet, O Lord, I

pray Thee to open my heart to Thy

truth. And now that I cannot be dis-

tracted with outward voices and sounds,

may I see the blessing there is in this

privation, and make a right use of it,

and ever be watching to hear what the

Lord will say unto me ; and listening for

Thy still small voice : may I never lose

anything that Thou dost speak to me,

but say always. Speak, Lord, for Thyservant heareth.

O hear me and answer me, my Father

;

not for myself alone do I ask these bless-

ings, but for all who have the same in-

firmity. O God of patience, give us all

patience to the end, for Jesus Chi'ist's

sake. Amen.


XLIII.

IN WEARISOME NIGHTS.

O Lord Jesus Clirist, Thou knowest

that in the night season I take no rest

;

sleep is gone from me : when I lie downI say, when shall I arise and the night be

gone ? I am full of tossings to and fro

unto the dawning of the day, for Thouscarest me with night visions ; I amafraid of the terror by night. Thou hast

tasted this suffering for me, for in the

night season Thy soul was exceeding sor-

rowful, even unto death ; have pity upon

me now;

give me grace to feel that

wearisome nights are appointed unto me.

my Father, God of love, Thou neither

slumberest nor sleepest, the darkness and

light are both alike to Thee ; the night

shineth as the day ; Thou art about mypath, and my lying down, and art ac-

quainted with all my ways ; therefore T

will fear no evil, Thy rod and Thy staff

comfort me. Thou wilt visit me in the9


niglit season ; in the niglit Thy son shall

be with me, and my prayer unto the Godof my life, so that even the night shall be

liglit about me ; by night I have sought

Thee on my bed, and Thou hast heard

me. O let the fire of Thy love give light

in the night, and then I shall not say^

would God it were morning, for I shall

have songs in the night. Unto Thee, OLord, will I sing, and will praise Thyname, because it is so comfortable. I

know, O Lord, that though weeping mayendure for a night, joy cometh in the

morning, and there shall be no night

there, for the Lord God giveth light, and

the days of our mourning shall be ended.

Help me now, O Father, Son, and Holy

Ghost, to be of good courage ; strengthen

mine heart to wait patiently on Thee.

Amen.

XLIV.

FOR SUNDAY.

Almighty and most merciful Father,

who dwellest not in temples made with


hands, Who hast said, Unto this manwill I look, even to him that is poor and

of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at myword.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the Head

of the body, the Church, the fulness of

Him that filleth all in all.

O Holy Ghost, the Comforter, be with

me, I pray Thee ; I, who am the prisoner

of the Lord, pray Thee to let my cry

come before Thee, for I am shut up, I

cannot go into the house of the Lord.

Thou hast shut me up. Thy will be

done.

Yet, Lord, I have loved the habitation

of Thine house, and the place where

Thine honor dwelleth. As the hart

panteth after the water-brooks, so long-

eth my soul after Thee, O God : whenshall I come to appear before God ? For

I had gone with the multitude ; I went

with them to the house of God, with the

voice of joy and praise, with a multitude

that kept holy-day.

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for


the courts of tlie Lord : my heart and myflesli crieth out for tlie living God. For

a day in Thy courts is better than a

thousand. Blessed are they that dwell

in Thy house, they will be still praising

Thee. O Lord God of Hosts, hear myprayer

;give ear, O God of Jacob. O

Lord, Thou hast said unto me. Enter into

thy chambers, and shut thy doors about

thee. In the way of Thy judgments, OLord, have I waited for Thee ; the de-

siiê of my soul is to Thy name, and to

the remembrance of Thee. Thou hast

brought me to Thy banqueting-house,

and Thy banner over me is love. Makeme to be planted in Thy house, and to

flourish in the courts of our God. I will

worship toward Thy holy temple, and

praise Thy name, for Thy loving-kindness

and for Thy truth, I will praise Thee

with my whole heart. Help me in this

my prison to sing praises unto the Lord,

and to rejoice and be glad because of Thyjudgments. Grant the same blessings to

all who are the prisoners of the Lord, to


those wlio are sick, and to those who are

kept from Thy house in nursing them.

Preserve all Thy sick members in the

unity of the Church, and may we ever-

more sing praises unto Thy holy name,

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Amen.

XLV.

FOR A BLESSING ON THE USE OF MEDICINEAND OTHER REMEDIES.*

Thou, O Father of Mercies, healest the

broken in heart, and bindest up their

wounds. Thou givest medicine to heal

their sickness, and healest all their dis-

eases. Thou hast created medicines out

of the earth. Grant, I beseech Thee, Thyblessing to the means used for my relief,

if so it seemeth good unto Thee. Thou,

O blessed Jesus, didst not despise the

use of human remedies. Thou didst

anoint the eyes of the blind to give himsight. Thou canst bless the simple

things of the world for my relief, yet


without Thy blessing the wisdom of the

world is foolishness, the skill of man is

as nothing, and his medicines are worth-

less as the dust of the earth that is blown

away by the wind.

Thou makest sore, O Lord ; if it seem-

eth good to Thee, do Thou bind up mywounds. Thou woundest, and Thy hands

make whole. Thou canst strengthen the

weak hands and confirm the feeble knees.

Unto thee do I look for succor : I amfeeble and sore smitten, there is no health

in my bones ; but Thou, O Lord, canst

heal mine infirmities, Thou canst recover

me, and make me to live. I submit my-

self to Thee to live or to die as shall seem

best in Thy sight. If it please Thee that

this remedy, this balm for my pain, should

assuage it, and restore my strength, to

Thee, O Lord, be the praise : if it please

Thee that it prove of none avail—if Thysentence is, in vain shalt thou use manymedicines, for thou shalt not be cured

;

if the cup of suffering may not pass from

me except I drink it. Thy will be done.


Lord, give me strengtli to suffer, and to

will and to do Thy good pleasure.

Strengthen me on the bed of languish-

ing, make Thou all my bed in my sick-

ness.

Be with me now and evermore, for the

sake of Thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

XLVI.

THAT SICKNESS MAY BRING FORTH ITS

PROPER FRUITS.*

Lord God of mercy, great hath been

Thy loving-kindness unto me. In great

mercy hast Thou afflicted me, to lead mein paths of righteousness, to heal me of

my wounds. Grant, Lord, that this suf-

fering may not be in vain. Thou hast

turned Thine hand upon me, purely purge

away my dross, O Lord, and take awayall my tin : purify and purge me as gold

and silver in the refiner's fire, that I mayoffer unto Thee an offering in righteous-

ness : let me be Thine in the day when


Thou niakest up Thy jewels. WhenThou givest me the bread of adversity,

and the water of affliction, let mine ears

hear a voice behind me, saying, This is

the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to

the right hand and to the left. Teach

me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a

plain path. I am afflicted very much

;

quicken me, O Lord, according unto ThyWord. I will lift up mine eyes unto the

hills, from whence cometh my help. Myhelp cometh fiôm the Lord. Suffer not

my foot to be moved from the narrow

way that leadeth unto life. Heal me, OLord, and I shall be healed ; save me,

and I shall be saved. Thou knowest myfoolishness, and my sins are not hid from

Thee. That which I see not teach Thoume. Thou makest sore, and bindest up

;

Thou woundest, and Thine hands makewhole. Lift me up, O Lord ; I humble

myself before Thee. I am bound with

fetters, and holden in cords of affliction.

Show me my work, and my transgressions

that I have exceeded ; open my ear to


discipline, that I may return from mine

iniquity, denying ungodliness and world-

ly lusts, and living soberly, righteously,

and godly in this present world, looking

for that blessed hope, and the glorious

appearing of the great God and our

Saviour Jesus Christ.

Thy judgments are right, in faithful-

ness hast Thou afflicted me ; let, I pray

Thee, Thy merciful kindness be for mycomfort.

Thou Who art the Captain of my sal-

vation. Who wast made perfect through

suffering, sanctify my suffeiings to me.

In all my affliction. Thou art afflicted.

Let the Angel of Thy presence save me :

in Thy love, and in Thy pity, redeem me,

O Lord my Saviour. Amen.

XLVII.

TO BE ENABLED TO GIVE THANKS FORSUFFERING.

O Blessed Jesus, help me to feel that

there should be no greater comfort than


to be made like unto Thee, by suffering

patiently adversities, troubles, and sick-

nesses. Tliou Thyself wentest not up

to joy, but first Thou didst suffer pain.

Thou didst not enter into Thy glory be-

fore Thou wast crucified. Most gladly,

therefore, would I glory in my infirmities

;

but for the present they are not joyous to

me, but grievous.

Thou art touched with a feeling of myinfirmities ; Thou wast in all points

tempted as I am ; and Thou didst say.

Father, save me from this hour ; If it be

possible, let this cup pass from me. OThou Man of sorrows, who art acquainted

with grief, I thank Thee for those gra-

cious words.

My spiiit indeed is willing, but myflesh is weak ; and I am afraid of Thyjudgments. Yet, O my Saviour, I would

by any means attain to the resurrection

of the dead. I would suffer with Thee,

that I may also reign with Thee.


Help me now to rejoice in my suffer-

ings, and to fill np that whicli is behind

of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh.

Make me to walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing, and to be fruitful in every

good work, and increasing in the knowl-

edge of God. O Lord, I am sick nigh unto

death, but do Thou have mercy upon me.

Thou didst humble Thyself, Jesus, myRedeemer, and becamest obedient unto

death, even the death of the Cross. I

bless Thee, that it is given to me, not

only to believe on Thee, but also to suffer

for Thy sake. May I be filled with the

fruits of righteousness, unto the glory

and praise of God, abounding therein

with thanksgiving, giving thanks always,

for all things. I ask these blessings not

for myself alone, but for all who are

called to the fellowship of Thy suffer-

ings ; and may the Holy Ghost, the

Comforter, abide with us, and the peace

of God, which passeth all understanding,

keep our hearts and minds, through Je-

sus Christ. Amen.

140 PKAYEES FOR THE SICK.

XLVIII.

THE PURPOSE OF SUFFERINO IS TO LIKENUS TO THE SON OF GOD.

O Lord, my heavenly Father, Thoii

hast sent me this long sickness, and it is

not joyous to me but grievous. Keep

me from either despising Thy chastising,

or fainting when I am rebuked of Thee.

Teach me to know that I can never suffer

alone, because Christ hath borne mygriefs and carried my sorrows ; help meto rejoice, inasmuch as I am a partaker

of His sufferings. O Lord, from hence-

forth enable me to count this a very high

honor ; and may I take up my cross

gladly, and follow Him, and rejoice that I

am counted worthy to suffer. Help me to

rejoice in tribulation, and always to give

thanks for this Thy will concerning me.

O Lord, forgive me for looking so

much at my pains and sufferings, and

so little unto Jesus. Help me to remem-


ber His Agony and Bloody Sweat, His

Cross and Passion, and tHs will make

my cross easier to bear. O my Father,

I liave too often wished tliat there were

some easier way to inherit eternal life

:

but Thou knowest all things, Thou

knowest that I love Thee, and that myheart's desire is that I may know the

love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,

and be filled with all the fulness of God,

that I may be found in Christ, not hav-

ing mine own righteousness, but that

which is through the faith of Christ;

that I may know Him, and the power of

His resurrection, and the fellowship of

His sufferings, being made conformable

unto His death. O my Father, if Jesus

suffered these things before He entered

into His glory, how much more ought I

to suffer who have so greatly sinned ! I

thank Thee that He tasted death for

every man, and overcame its sharpness,

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all

believers.


Help lue evermore to reckon the suf-

ferings of this present time as not worthy

to be compared with the glory which is

to be revealed. Enable me, O Lord

Jesus, to look upon these light afflictions

as but for a moment. For the joy that

is set before me, may I endure the cross.

O Jesus, the Captain of our salvation,

Thou wast made perfect through suffer-

ing, perfect the work which concerneth

me, by suffering also. Send me what-

ever Thou seest needful for me ; only

leave me not, neither forsake me. Andhelp me to learn obedience by the things

which I suffer. Grant this to me, OLord Jesus Christ ; and not to me only,

but to all who are sick and suffering. OHoly Ghost, Thou dost take of the things

of Christ, we beseech Thee to show them

to us, and evermore to keep before us

His Cross and Passion, His Death of

Agony. Amen.


XLIX.

FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT DEATH IS

COMING NEAR AND DESIRE IT, BUT ARETOLD IT IS FAR DISTANT.

O my Father, hear me, my heart is dis-

quieted mthin me. I have longed, yea,

even fainted, for the courts of the Lord.

My heart and my flesh cry out for the

living God. I thought that the day of

rest was near, that it had almost come,

I was glad and gave thanks to Thee. I

had requested for myself that I might

die, and said, it is enough, now, O Lord,

take away my life. My soul had fainted,

and I had wished in myself to die, and

said, it is better for me to die than live.

Search me, O God, and know my heart,

try me, and know my thoughts, and see

what way of wickedness is in me, and

leaxi me in the way everlasting.

O my Father, I have been deceiving my-

self, and thereby I have deceived others.

Thou alone knowest how much of self-


will there has been in this desire. Thouknowest how often weariness of this long

sickness, or being grieved and wearied

with my sins, and finding the burden of

them intolerable, has made me desire to

depart. Sometimes the way has seemed

so very long, and as if it had no end, and

my soul was discouraged because of the

way, and then I grew impatient. Thouknowest all the secret causes far better

than I know them myself; for my faults

are not hid from Thee. O my Father, I

know that I have been asking to be at

rest more than that Thy holy will might

be done in me in any way that Thoupleasest. I have not quietly left it to

Thee to choose for me when I should

depart.

I thank Thee now with my whole

heart that Thou hast kept me here until

Thou hadst taught me that in all this I

have sinned, and been unlike unto my


Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, wlio came

from heaven, not to do His own will, but

the will of the Father who sent Him. If

I had been like Him, O Lord, I should

have waited patiently ; I should not

have been striving with Thee as I have

done, or wished for rest one moment be-

fore Thou dost send it. I have thought

that what was my will was Thy will, I

made an idol of it and worshipped it.

But Thou wouldest not leave me ; Thouhast taught me, and had patience Avith

me ; and Thou hast shown me that myhour is not yet come, and made me will-

ing to abide in the flesh, and continue

here, because it is Thy will. O myFather, it seemed very hard to me whenfirst I was told that I should live for

many years and suffer all that time. I

thought that he who said it was as one

that mocked ; but Thou didst send him

to humble me, and prove me, and show

me what was in my heart. I thought

they were only the words of a man, but

he was Thy messenger, O Lord ; and if

10


I had heard Thy voice speaking, I should

not have rebelled or murmured.

Thou hast shown my sin to me ; it has

found me out. But O ! it is a very dif-

ficult lesson to learn. My Father, Thou

hast taught me hitherto, do not leave menow, but bend my will to Thy will, and

make my whole heart to say, Thy will

be done. O my Father, if it be possible,

let this cup pass fi'om me;yet teach me

to say, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.

I have besought Thee to let me depart,

but Thou hast said, my grace is sufficient

for thee. O make me content with this

gracious ans\^'er. O my God and Father,

keep me from thinking so much of the

words of a man that must die. My times

are in Thy hands, not in his. Thou hast

appointed unto me a set time, and wilt

remember me.

Thou hast ordered who shall go first,

and each one that shall follow, every man

in his own order. O grant that I may


never be impatient again ; all the days

of my appointed time enable me to wait

willingly, clieerfally, patiently, enjoying

life, and seeing good days, because it is

Thy lioly will, O God of Love ; and mayI ever feel sure tliat, wlien tlie right hour

comes, the prayer shall be answered,

Father, I will that they also whom Thouhast given me be with me where I am,

that they may behold my glory. O Godthe Father, God the Son, and God the

Holy Ghost, hear, and answer, and pity

and strengthen me ; and what I ask for

myself, I ask for all to whom the same

trial is appointed. Be with me, and with

all my fellow-sufferers, and give us pa-

tience to the end. Amen.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE RECOVERING FROMSICKISTESS, AND HAVE THE PROSPECT OFRETURNING TO ACTIVE LIFE.

O Lord, I will give thanks to Thee, for

Thou art good, and Thy mercy endureth


for ever. The sorrows of death com-

passed me, I found trouble and sorrow,

and by my sickness was brought nigh

unto death.

But Thou, O Lord, hadst mercy on

me ; and not on me only, but also on myfamily. Thanks be to Thee, O Lord, for

Thy marvellous loving-kindness: forThoudidst bring me to the gates of death, and

yet Thou didst turn again and refresh me,

and comfort me on every side.

What shall I render to the Lord for

all His benefits to me ? I will take the

cup of salvation, and call upon the nameof the Lord. I will pay my vows unto

the Lord, now in the presence of all His

people, in the courts of the Lord's house.

The Lord hath chastened me sore, but

He hath not given me over to death. I

shall not die but live, and declare the

works of the Lord. Thou art my God,

and I will praise Thee. Thou ai-t myGod, and I will exalt Thee. Thou hast

dealt bountifully with Thy servant, OLord ; Thou hast brought me health and


cure, be pleased also to reveal to me tlie

abundance of peace and of truth.

O Lord, Thou hast in great mercy re-

newed my strength, grant, I beseech

Thee, that since this sickness is not unto

death, it may be fo Thy glory, that the

Son of God may be glorified hereby.

Thou hast chastened me for my profit,

that I might be a partaker of Thy holi-

ness ; now that I am going forth again

to do my duty in that state of life unto

which Thou hast called me, if I do not

serve Thee more purely and entirely,

surely this sickness will rise up in judg-

ment against me.

O Lord, in my sickness I said, I will

take heed unto my ways, that I sin not

with my tongue. I said I would serve

Thee all the days of my life, that I wouldlove Thee with all my heart, and all mymind, and all my strength, if I might but

recover my bodily health. O let not any

prayers that I have offered rise up to con-


demn me. Let me not break any of the

vows whicli I made wlien I thought I

should die, but help me, O Almighty God,

daily to perform those vows, and from'

henceforth to do justly, and love mercy,

and walk humbly with Thee, as I have

never done before.

O Lord, it is not in man that walketh

to duêct his steps. I cannot keep these

vows, I have no might. Give, therefore.

Thy servant an understanding heart.

Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and I will

walk in Thy paths. Lead me in Thytruth, and teach me, for Thou art the

God of my salvation.

Grant, O most merciful Father, I be-

seech Thee, that through Thy help I mayboth faithfully live and walk according

to Thy will in this life present, and also

may be partaker of everlasting glory in

the life to come. Grant the same help

and blessings, O Lord, to all who are

now recovering from sickness, for we ask

it in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.


LI.

PRAYER BEFORE RECEIVING THE SACRA-MENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

AlmigLty Father, who bast given Tliine

only Son to die for our sins, and to rise

again for our justification;grant me so

to put away the leaven of malice and

wickedness, that I may alway serve Thee

in pureness of living and truth. Help

me now to keep this feast, not with the

old leaven, but with the unleavened

bread of sincerity and truth. I will

arise and go to my Father, and say unto

Him, Father, I have sinned against

heaven and in Thy sight, and am no

more worthy to be called Thy child. I

am not worthy that Thou shouldest

come under my roof ; and yet Thou say-

est. Behold, I stand at the door and

knock : if any man hear my voice I will

come in to him, and sup with him, and

he with me.

O my Father, I beseech Thee to open


the door of my heart : if Tliou dost open,

no man can shut it. I have often been

so lovingly called by Thee, O Lord ; and

yet how often I have refused to come !

Lord Jesus, I have dared to disobey

Thy last commandment, and have lived

as if Thou hadst not said, Do this in re-

membrance of me. I have heard the

words, Come unto me, all that travail

and are heavy laden, and I will refresh

you. But I did not come to Thy Holy

Table, when I had health and strength,

and might have come : dare I venture

now, O Lord, when I am so weak and ill ?

must I not stay away now ? I am afraid

I could not give my attention, I am so

weak, and my mind wanders : and yet,

O my Father, Thy poor weak child never

needed the living Bread which came

down from heaven so much as now,

which if a man eat thereof, he shall not

die. My strength and my heart faileth;

this bread will strengthen my heai-t.

Thou didst call to the marriage feast

the lame, the halt, and the blind. O


Lord, do not let Satan persuade me that

my sin is too great to be forgiven ; for

Christ Jesus came into the world to save

sinners ; and if any man sin we have an

Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ

the righteous.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast said,

With desire have I desired to eat this

passover with you, before I suffer. O let

not the desire be all on Thy part, and

the unwillingness on mine. If Thou de-

sirest that I should come to Thy table,

Jesus, my Saviour, take away all unbe-

lief, and unwillingness, and slowness of

heart, and want of love, and purify mysoul, even as Thou art pure. Let me see

God, which only the pure in heart can

do : may I simply believe Thine ownwords, and take, and eat : because it is

Thy Body, and Thy Blood. For Thyflesh is meat indeed, and Thy Blood is

drink indeed : whoso eateth Thy flesh


hatli eternal life. Help me to believe

Thy words, for they are past my uucler-

stancling; and from henceforth may I

thankfully and with a glad heart come

to Thy holy Table, until it pleases Thee

to grant that I may drink new wine in

the kingdom of my Father, with the

great multitude which no man can num-

ber. O Holy and Blessed Trinity, grant

these mercies now and evermore. Amen.

LH.

FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CLERGY.

Almighty and everlasting God, wepray Thee to hear the prayers of the sick

members of Thy body the Church, for all

estates and conditions of men. Let Thycontinual pity cleanse and defend ThyChurch ; and because it cannot continue

in safety without Thy succor, preserve it

evermore by Thy help and goodness.

Give us gi'ace seriously to lay to heart

the great dangers we are in by our un-


happy divisions ; take away all hatred,

and prejudice, and whatever else mayhinder us from godly union and concord,

that as there is but one body, and one

spirit, and one hope of our calling, one

Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Godand Father of us all, so we may hence

forth be all of one heart, and one soul,

united in one holy bond of truth and

peace, of faith and charity, and may with

one mind and one mouth glorify Thee.

Most merciful Father, we beseech Thee

to hear us in behalf of all bishops,

priests, and deacons, not only those whoare laboring in this country, but also in

all other countries, in the colonies, and

in heafchen lands. Send down, O Lord,

upon all Thy servants Thy heavenly

blessing, that they may be clothed with

righteousness, and that Thy word spoken

by their mouths may never be spoken in

vain. May it please Thee to give to all

Thy people increase of grace to hear

meekly Thy word, and to receive it with

pure affection, and to bring forth the

156 PEAYERS FOK THE SICK.

fruits of the Spirit, and truly to serve

Thee in holiness and righteousness of

life.

I pray for all the clergy who are re-

lated or known to me, especially those

for whom my prayers are desired. And,

Lord, hear my prayer particularly for

him who ministers to me in holy things,

and whom Thou hast appointed to watch

for my soul as one that must give ac-

count. Grant that I may ever cause himto give that account with joy, not with

grief May I learn humbly, meekly, and

thankfully whatever he teaches me. May1 never be a hindi'ance to him, or to his

work, or any stumbling-block to others

;

and because I cannot go up to the house

of the Lord, may I receive his ministra-

tions the more thankfully, and try to

practise what he teaches me. Give Thyheavenly grace to him, O Lord, and daily

increase in him Thy manifold gifts of


grace, tlie spirit of msdom and under-

standing, tlie spirit of counsel and ghost-

ly strength, the spirit of knowledge and

true godliness, and fill him with the spirit

of Thy holy fear, now and for ever.

Grant these, and all other blessings

which we have failed to ask, in the

name, and for the sake of Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

LIII.

FOR THE FRIENDS WHO ARE WITH US,

AND THOSE WHO ARE ABSENT, AND FORNURSES AND ATTENDANTS.

O Lord, Thou hast been, and Thou art

gracious unto Thy servant. Thou hast

never suffered me to lack any good thing.

Is the disciple above his Master, O Lord ?

My Saviour in His agony and Passion

was forsaken even by His own discij^les

;

but I have never been left alone in mylighter suffering. Thou hast in great

mercy always sent me kind friends to

care for and serve me ; and Thou hast

158 PEAYEES rOE THE SICK.

put sucli love and patience into their

hearts, that they have borne patiently

with my long sickness, \vith all the trou-

ble I have given them, and with mywaywardness and irritability. I confess

before Thee, O my Father, that some-

times I have been difficult to please, and

perverse, and wilful, and have grieved

them by words and deeds ; I have not

been considerate of them as I ought to

have been, and have been unthankful.

I have too often received their service as

a right, instead of as a good gift, and a

work of charity in them ; and yet Thou

hast given to them such love and for-

bearance that they still have patience.

Bless, Lord, with holy blessings, all who

have ever nursed me, or ministered to me

in any way ; those who are with me

now, and those who of necessity are

absent. Bless especially [my parents],

and remember for good all their un-

wearied love, and patience, and tender-

ness, which Thou didst give them, and

which they have so richly measured out


to me. Bless [my brothers] and [sis-

ters], and let them have full measure,

pressed down, returned to them seven-

fold in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Bless also, O Lord, with Thy fatherly

blessing, the dear friends whom Thouhast so wonderfully raised up for myneeds, to comfort and to tend me ; maythey have the blessing of the Lord, which

maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow there-

to. Bless all who have ministered to mein holy things, who have taught, or ad-

monished, or comforted me, or who have

given me to eat and to drink of ThyBody and Thy Blood ; let not this labor

of love be forgotten before Thee.

Bless the medical men who have at-

tended me, and may they ever look uponthemselves as Thy ministering servants,

sent forth to minister to Thy children.

Bless the servants of the family whohave been so faithful and kind to me.


and especially bless lier wlio lias so long

served me with unwearied and faithful

love. May she be rewarded an hundred-

fold. I commend her to Thy fatherly

love and care ; increase in her true reli-

gion, nourish her with all goodness, and

of Thy great mercy keep her in the same.

Bless also all strangers who have min-

istered to me. I cannot recompense

them, or any that have been kind to me

;

but Thou wilt recompense them at the

resurrection of the just.

O Lord, Thou hast brought me to great

dependence on those who nurse me ; I

thank Thee that Thou hast also made

me willing to be dependent, that Thou

hast taken from me the slavish dislike to

giving them the trouble that is neces-

sary ; for it was pride that made me wish

to be independent, and do everything for

myself.

O God, forgive my sins to all who

have been about me, or ministered to

me ; and give them day by day to feel,

when they minister to the sick, that they


minister to Christ Himself, who lias said,

Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the

least of these, ye did it unto Me. Let

them find that even a cup of cold water

given to a disciple in the name of a dis-

ciple shall in no wise lose its reward.

Bless those of my dear family and friends

who now lie sick upon their beds ; com-

fort them, O Lord, and comfort all whoare sick ; and when these light afflictions

are ended, may we meet in Thy holy

presence, to go no more out. These

blessings we ask for Jesus Christ's sake,,

Amen.

LIV.

FOR MEDICAL MEN.*

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who art the

Great Physician of our souls, shower

down Thy blessings, I beseech Thee, on

those who devote themselves to the sick

in body, (and especially on )

Look Thou favorably on their labors,

11

162 ^PRAYERS FOR THE SICK.

bless tlie means which they use to the

relief of suffering, and the strengthening

of weakness. Without Thee, O Lord,

Aâin is the help of man. May they go

forth to their work in the strength of the

Lord God, not trusting in their own wis-

dom, but looking to Thee for guidance,

and acknowledging that to Thee belong

the issues of life, and the issues from

death, and that of the Most High cometh

healing;praying to Thee the prayer of

faith that shall save the sick, working

not for their own profit or their own

glory, but for the good of man and the

glory of God. Let the consideration of

His works, the operations of His hands,

how fearfully and wonderfully we are

made, how curiously wrought, lead their

minds to the praise and worshij) of the

Creator, in whose book all our members

were written, when as yet there were

none of them. In all their ways may

they acknowledge Thee, direct Thou

their path, O Lord. Add to their faith,

virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience,


godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.

Give them, O Lord, the spirit of love

and of gentleness, teach them how to

soothe the sick and comfort the weak-

hearted, to strengthen the diseased, to

heal that which is sick, to bind up that

which is broken, to bind up their wounds

tenderly, and to heal them with healing

medicines and with balm. Bless them,

O Lord, in all their labors. Be Thou to

them a shield and a buckler, preserve

them from the terror by night, from the

arrow that flieth by day, from the pesti-

lence that walketh in darkness, and from

the destruction that wasteth at noon-day,

when a thousand fall at their side, and

ten thousand at their right hand, let it

not come nigh them : let no evil befall

them, let no plague come nigh their

dwelling.

Reward them, O Lord, for all their

loving-kindness to Thy smitten children.

Accept it as done to Thyself, forget not

their work and labor of love ; and whenThou comest in Thy glory, and all the


holy angels with Thee, let them be ac-

counted good and faithful servants, and

may they hear Thy voice, saying. Inas-

much as ye have done it unto the least

of these my brethren, ye have done it

unto Me. Let them enter into Thy joy,

and live with Thee, Who livest and reign-

est with the Father, and the Holy Spirit,

One God, blessed for evermore. Amen.

LV.

THANKSGIVING FOR FJRIENDS.*

Blessed be Thy Name, O Lord myGod. Great have been Thy mercies to

me, and the blessings by which Thou

hast lightened the trial of suffering to

which Thou hast called me. Lord, Thou

hast not left me destitute or comfortless.

Thou hast raised up friends to soothe

mine affliction, and to comfoi*t me in mysorrow. Thou hast crowned me with lov-

ing-kindness and tender mercies. Though

sickness has shut me out from many, yet


it lias drawn others to wliom I looked

not for comfort nearer to me. Tliou hast

not put my brethren far from me, neither

are mine acquaintances estranged from

me : my kinsfolk have not failed me, nor

have my familiar friends forgotten me.

They v^hom I loved are not turned

against me : their tenderness still com-

forts me, their love is very pleasant to

me. And for these and all Thy mercies

I desire to praise Thee, O Lord, Heavenly

Father, Author of all mercies, from

Whom Cometh every good gift.

Thou, O Lord Jesus, hast sanctified

human affection : there were those on

earth whom Thou didst esteem dear unto

Thee, and didst honor with Thine espe-

cial love. I thank Thee that this bless-

ing is not denied me, that I have friends

who love at all times, and brothers born

for adversity.

As in water face answereth to face, so

doth the heart of man to man. Give megrace, O Lord, to profit by this blessing

;

let me never turn their hearts from me


by coldness, or by a contentious spiiit.

May tlieir love for me work good and

not evil to them. May we be bound to-

gether in the bonds of Christian affec-

tion. May our prayers for each other

ascend to Thee. Reward Thou them

fourfold for their good offices to me

;

and grant that we may all hereafter live

and reign with Thee, Who livest and

reignest with the Father and the Holy

Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore.

Amen.

LVI.

THANKSGIVING FOR BODILY COMFORTS.*

Thy tender mercies, O Lord, are over

all Thy works. The eyes of all wait

upon Thee, and Thou givest them their

meat in due season. Thou openest Thine

hand, and satisiiest the desire of every

living thing. I will praise Thee, O Lord

my God, I will give Thee thanks for all

Thy mercies. Thou hast given me the


good things of tliis world abundantly, to

lighten the burden of my sickness. Thou

dost comfort me when I lie sick upon mybed, and makest my bed in all my sick-

ness. Thou hast blessed the tenderness

and the skill of man to provide me with

comforts whereby the sick are soothed

and eased in the extremity of their suffer-

ing and of their weakness. Blessed be

Thy name, O Lord, for all these allevia-

tions of my sickness. Thy blessed Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ, though He was

rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that

we, through His poverty, might be rich.

Many are called to endure both poverty

and sickness, who lodge without cloth-

ing, and have no covering in the cold

;

who are wet with the showers of the

mountains, and embrace the rock for

want of a shelter. What am I, Lord,

that Thou hast made my lot to diifer ?

But I have all, I abound, I am full ; I

am enriched in every thing to all bounti-

fulness. May I never forget from whose

hands all my comforts come. "What have


I that I did not receive from the liviDg

God, who giveth us richly all things to

enjoy ? May they fill my heart with

thankfuhiess to Thee, and with compas-

sion to those from whom they are with-

held. And shouldest Thou see fit at any

time to take them from me, grant me, OLord, in whatever state I am therewith

to be content, to know both how to be

abased and to abound ; both to be frill

and to be hungry, both to abound and to

sufter need. I look unto Thee, O Heav-

enly Father, for my daily bread : Thouwilt supply all my need according to

Thy riches in gloiy by Christ Jesus.

Praised be Thy holy name, O Lord

my God. Amen.

LVII.

THANKSGIVING FOR SPIRITUAL CONSO-LATIONS.*

I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thouhast lifted me up. O Lord my God, I

cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed


me. The Lord is my strength and myshield, my heart trusted in Him, and I

am helped ; therefore my heart greatly

rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise

Him. Thou hast put gladness in mine

heart, even in the time of mine adver-

sity, in the hour of mine anguish. The

Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pas-

tures : He leadeth me beside the still

waters. He restoreth my soul : He lead-

eth me in the paths of righteousness for

His name's sake. Yea, though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of

death, I will fear no evil : for Thou art

with me ; Thy rod and Thy staff they

comfort me. I will praise Thee, O Lord

my God, with all my heart, and I will

glorify Thy name for evermore, for great

is Thy mercy towards me, and Thou hast

delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Unless the Lord had been my help, mysoul had almost dwelt in silence. WhenI said my foot slippeth. Thy mercy, OLord, held me up ; in the multitude of


my thoughts within rae. Thy comforts

delight my soul ; Thou hast furnished

for me a table in the wilderness ; Thouhast given me bread from heaven, yea,

I have eaten angels' food. Thou hast

brought streams also out of the rock

;

Thou hast made the wilderness a stand-

ing water, and dry ground into water-

springs. Sing, O Heaven, be joyful, Oearth, break forth into singing, O moun-

tains, for the Lord hath comforted His

people, and will have mercy upon His

afflicted.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord ; mysoul shall be joyful in my God, for Hehath clothed me with the garments of

salvation. He hath covered me with the

robe of righteousness.

Praised be Thy name. O Lord mySaviour, the Holy One of Israel, my Ke-

deemer. Amen.

PEAYEES FOE THE SICK. iTl

LVIII.

THANKSGIVING FOR SICKNESS.*

O Lord, from whom cometh every good

and perfect gift. In great mercy hast

Thou afflicted me, to bring me to repent-

ance ; Thou hast chastened me by little

and little, Thou warnest me by putting

me in remembrance wherein I have

offended, that leaving my wickedness, I

may believe on Thee, O Lord;yet Thou

hast remembered my weakness, that I

am but flesh, a wind that passeth awayand Cometh not again. Thou hast not

laid upon me more than I can bear.

Blessed be Thy name, O Lord, for all

my intervals of ease : Thou hast chastened

me right sore, yet Thou hast not given

me over to death. As a loving Father,

Thou causest me oft to feel Thy rod, that

Thou mayest have joy of me in the end;

Thou dost scourge and hast mercy

;

Happy is the man whom Thou cor-


rectest. I will not despise tlie chasten-

ing of the Almighty, for He maketh sore

and bindeth up, He woundeth and His

hands make whole. It is good for methat I have been afflicted, that I might

learn Thy statutes. Before I was afflict-

ed I went astray;praised be Thy name,

O Lord, for this Thy chastisement, for

whom Thou lovest Thou chastenest, and

scourgest every son whom Thou dost

receive. Let this light affliction, which

is but for a moment, work in me a far

more exceeding and eternal weight of

glory. Lord, Thou hast counted meworthy to suffer with Thee, grant that I

may hereafter be glorified with Thee. I

thank Thee that by this bondage of sick-

ness Thou hast preserved me from manyof the trials and temptations of the world,

common to those who are in health, from

the danger of being cumbered about

much serving ; careful and troubled

about many things of this world. Thoupunishedst me in the sight of men, that

my hope may be full of immortality.


Thou triest me as gold in the furnace,

receive me, O Lord, as a burnt offering.

Sanctify me with Thy Holy Spirit, that

laying aside every weight, and the sin

that doth so easily beset me, I may run

with patience the race that is set before

me, looking unto Jesus, the Author and

Finisher of our faith, who is set down at

the right hand of the throne of God.

Praised be His name to all eternity.

Amen.

LIX.

THANKSGIVma FOR SORROW.*

I will thank Thee, O Lord and King,

and praise Thee, O God my Saviour ; for

prosperity and adversity, life and death,

poverty and riches, come of Thee ; all

Thy works are good, and Thou wilt give

us every needful thing in due season,

health and sickness, joy and sorrow, each

as we need them. I will sing of Thy

power; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy


mercy in the morning, for Thou hast

been my defence and refuge in the day

of my trouble.

Thou dost not afflict willingly, nor

grieve the children of men, but Thydesire is to draw us to Thee, that wemay walk in the way that leadeth to

salvation. Thou sawest, O Lord, that I

needed this sorrow, to subdue the imagi-

nations of my heart, to keep me from

idols that I might set my affections on

things above, not on things of this earth,

and lay up for myself treasures in heaven,

where moth and rust doth not corrupt,

where thieves do not break through and

steal. Blessed are they that mourn, for

they shall be comforted. Weeping mayendure for a night, but joy cometh in the

morning. Blessed are they which have

been sorrowful for all Thy scourges, for

they shall rejoice with Thee, when they

have seen all Thy glory, and shall be

glad for ever. The Lord hath done great

things for me, whereof I am glad ; Hehath made me to sow in tears, that I


miglit reap in joy ; He hatli refined me,

and chosen me in the furnace of affliction.

In a little wratli, He hid His face from

me for a moment, but with everlasting

kindness He will have mercy on me. I

walked on frowardly in the way of mine

heart, but Thou wast with me, Lord, to

save me. Thou hast corrected me in

measure, and hast not left me altogether

unpunished. In Thy love Thou dost

rebuke me and chasten me.

Blessed be God, even the Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all

mercies, and the God of all comfort, whocomforteth us in all our tribulation. For

as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

so our consolation also aboundeth byChrist : To Him be honor, and glory, and

praise, and worship, now and evermore.

Amen.

176 PEAYERS FOR THE SIOK.

LX.

THANKSGIVma FOR OUR BAPTISMAL IN-

HERITANCE.*

Blessed be tlie God and Father of our

Lord Jesus Clirist, which, according to

His abundant mercy, hath begotten us

again unto a lively hope, by the resur-

rection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to

an inheritance incorruptible, and unde-

filed, and that fadeth not away, reserved

in Heaven for those who are kept by the

power of God through faith unto salva-

tion. Then shall the righteous shine

forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their

Father.

I will bless Thy name, O Lord, for I

have received the spirit of adoption

;

Thou hast made me Thine own child

;

Thine own heir, joint heir with Thyblessed Son, baptized into His body,

that glorious Chui'ch without spot or

wrinkle, or any such thing, holy, and

PEAYEES FOE THE SICK. 17T

witliout blemisli. I give Thee thanks,

O Father, that Thou hast made me meet

to be a partaker of the inheritance of the

Saints in light, that Thou hast delivered

me from the powers of darkness, and hast

translated me into the kingdom of Thydear Son, in whom we have redemption

through His blood, even the forgiveness

of sins. Blessed be Thy holy name, that

Thou hast given me to be a branch of

the true vine, a sheep of Thy fold, a part

of Thine household, a fellow-citizen with

Thy saints, a member of Thy Body ; that

Thou hast given me a share in Thy prom-

ises ; in the prayers of Thy children, in

the ministry of Thy Holy angels, in the

consolations of Thy Holy Spirit. Openmine eyes, O Lord, enlighten mine under-

standing, that I may know what is the

hope of Thy calling, and what is the

glory of Thine inheritance in the Saints.

Help me, O Lord, holy Father, to makemy calling and election sure, that I maywalk worthy of Thee, who hast called meunto Thy kingdom and glory.

12

178 PEAYERS FOE THE SICK.

I bless Thee, O Lord, I praise Thy

name for all these inestimable blessings,

these consolations in my suffering. Howgreat are Thy mercies, O Lord ! Tlie

sufferings of this present time are not

worthy to be compared to the glory

which shall be revealed in us. Eye hath

not seen, nor ear heard, neither have

entered into the heart of man to conceive

the things which Thou hast prepared for

them that love Thee.

Praised be Thy name for ever and

ever. Amen.

PART II.

PRAYERS FOR THE DYING,

As in Adam all die, so in Christ sliall all be madealive.

PRAYERS FOR THE DYING.

I

m PROSPECT OF DEATH.

LOED JESUS CHRIST, wlio

didst suffer deatli upon tlie

cross, have mercy upon me,

for the fear of deatli hath fallen upon me.

I am feeble and sore broken ; I have

roared for the very disquietness of myheart. Lord, all my desire is before

Thee, and my groaning is not hid from

Thee ; my heart panteth, my strength

faileth ; as for the light of mine eyes, it

is also gone from me. But in Thee, OLord, do I hope ; Thou wilt hear, OLord my God. Make haste to help me,

O God of my salvation. Deliver mefrom all my transgressions ; make me

182 PEAYERS FOR THE DYma.

not tlie reproacli of the foolisli. O spare

rue, that I may recover strength before

I go hence and be no more seen. Father,

if it be possible, let this cup pass from

me ; nevertheless, not as I will, but as

Thou wilt. Yet, O Lord God most holy,

O Lord most mighty, holy and most

merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the

bitter pains of eternal death. Thou

knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts.

Shut not Thy merciful ears to our pray-

er ; but spare us, Lord most holy. OGod most mighty, O holy and most mer-

ciful Saviour, Thou most worthy Judge

eternal, suffer us not at our last hour,

for any pains of death, to fall from Thee.

Amen.

IL

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A FEAR OF DEATH.

O Lord God Almighty, I feel the sen-

tence of death in myself, I know that

Thou wilt bring me unto death. All mylifetime I have been subject to bondage

PEAYERS FOR THE DYING. 183

through fear of death, and now the ter-

rors of death are fallen upon me. Death

is nigh even at my very doors. If I

have run with the footmen, and they

have wearied me, then how can I con-

tend with horses, if in the laud of peace

wherein I trusted they wearied me, then

what shall I do in the swellings of Jor-

dan ? O God, I shall go hence, and not

return, even to the land of darkness, and

the shadow of death ; a land of darkness

as darkness itself, and of the shadow of

death ; without any oi'der, and where the

light is as darkness. O Saviour of sin-

ners, it is not the pain I fear, but the

enemy cometh on so fast, and I must ap-

pear before the judgment-seat to give

account of the deeds done in the body,

every idle word, and every sin.

Of whom may I seek for succor, but of

Thee, O Lord, who for my sins art justly

displeased? Yet, O Lord God most

holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and

most merciful Saviour, deliver me not

into the bitter pains of eternal death..

184 PEAYERS FOR THE DYING.

Thou didst taste death for every man.

Help Thou mine unbelief. Save me,

Lord, or I perish. Help me to lay hold

on the arm of Thy strength.

It was by the suffering of death that

Thou didst redeem me. Thou wast par-

taker of our flesh and blood, that Thoumightest destroy him that hath the power

of death, that is, the devil. Thou wilt

not leave my soul in hell. Thou wilt

show me the path of life. Give me grace

to believe that Thou hast abolished death,

and hast brought life and immortality to

light, and that nothing is able to separate

me from Thee, neither life, nor death, nor

things present, nor things to come. Thouhast overcome the sharpness of death, and

opened the kingdom of heaven to all be-

lievers, through Thy precious blood, OLamb of God. May I believe that

although death is passed upon all men,

and in Adam I must die, yet in Christ I

shall be made alive ; that my life is hid

with Christ in God, and that in me the

saying shall be brought to pass. Death is

PKAYEES FOR THE DYING. 185

swallowed up in victory. Thanks be

unto God whicli givetli us tlie victory

tlu'ougli Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

WHEN DEATH IS NEAR.

Almighty God, my Heavenly Father^

I humbly commend my soul into Thyhands, as into the hands of a faithful

Creator, and most merciful Saviour, be-

seeching Thee that it may be precious in

Thy sight.

O Lord Jesus Christ, I cannot say as

Thou didst, I have finished the work that

Thou hast given me to do, but I thank

Thee that Thou hast finished it for me,

that Thou hast wrought all Thy works

in me.

In me dwelleth no good thing. I amunclean ; O Lord, I hear Thy voice, say-

ing. Be ye also ready ; I abhor myself, I

repent in dust and ashes. How shall I

come and appear before the presence of

God?

186 PEAYEKS FOE THE DYING.

Holy, holy, Holy, Lord God Almiglity,

all my righteousnesses are as filthy rags,

they are become abominable.

O Lord, I would not be unclothed, but

clothed upon, lest I should be found

naked ; I cannot buy raiment, my flesh

and my heart fail. Miserable, and

wretched, and poor, and blind, and

naked, I come to Thee. Lord, I be-

lieve that the blood of Jesus Christ

cleanseth from all sin : that from all

my filthiness and all my idols He has

cleansed me : that He has washed mefi'om my sins in His own blood, and

will present me faultless before Thythrone ; not for my righteousness, for I

was stiff-necked, but to show forth Thypraise, for the glory of Thy name. Into

Thy hands I commend my spirit, O Lord

God of truth, for Thou hast redeemed

me. I have a desire to depart and to

be with Christ, which is far better.

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. I amThine, save me ! and receive me, O Fa-

PRAYERS FOR THE DYING. 18^

ther, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God,

Avorld without end. Amen.

IV.

FOR THOSE WHO DESmE TO DEPART, BUTARE WILLING TO WAIT THE APPOINTEDTIME.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity,

three persons and one God, have mercy

upon me a miserable sinner. My soul

longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the

courts of the Lord ; I have a desire to

depart, and to be with Christ, which is

far better. In this tabernacle I do groan,

being burdened ; earnestly desiring to be

clothed upon with my house which is

from heaven. O Lord, whilst I am at

home in the body, I am absent from

Thee. I am willing to be absent from

the body, and present with the Loixi.

And yet Thou hast said that to abide in

the flesh is more needfal for me ; and

having this confidence, I know that I

188 PEAYERS FOR THE DYESTO.

shall abide and continue until Thoushalt say, Come up liither.

What I shall choose, I wot not. Not

as I will, but as Thou wilt : for to me to

live is Christ, and to die is gain. I thank

Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

because Thou hast said that to me it is

given in the behalf of Christ, not only to

believe on Him, but also to suffer for His

sake.

O Lord, let this mind be in me, which

was also in Christ Jesus. Grant that I

may be made perfect through suffering

;

and if sometimes my soul crieth out, OLord, how long ? let it be Thy pleasure

to deliver Thy servant. Jesus, Son of

David, have mercy on me, and forgive all

my sin.

Lord, I would not live alway. O that

I had wings like a dove ; for then would

I flee away and be at rest. But my times

are in Thy hand.

Thou hast appointed unto me a set

PKAYERS FOR THE DYING. 189

time, and wilt remember me ; therefore,

Lord, all tlie days of mine ap23ointed

time will I wait till my change come.

There is a needs be that I should be in

heaviness still ; Thou dost purge methus, that I may bring forth more fiûit

:

1 will hope and quietly wait for the sal-

vation of the Lord.

I know, O Lord, that yet a little, and

He that shall come will come and will

not tarry : and Thou wilt give me grace,

though Thou dost tarry, to wait for Thee.

Grant this, O merciful Father, I be-

seech Thee, to me, and also to all those

who long to be at rest;give to us all,

patient hearts, and make our wills one

with Thy will, through Jesus Christ, our

Mediator and Advocate. Amen,

V.

FOR THOSE OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDSWHO WILL BE LEFT AT OUR DEATH.

Almighty and everlasting God, I thank

and praise Thee for all Thy love to me,

190 PRAYEES FOR THE DYING.

and Tliy care over me ever since I was

born ; for all Thy loving-kindness, and

tender mercies, for the friends and bless-

ings Thou hast so richly given to me

;

and for the hope that Thou wilt soon

take me hence, that where Thou art, Thyservant may be also.

O my Father, I need not hide anything

from Thee, and one thing lies upon myheart, and is often a sore burden ; the

thought of those that I must leave be-

hind me. Lord, increase my faith.

Grant to me that perfect faith, as well

as love, which casteth out fear. Give

me sure trust and confidence in Thymercy. If I had none to leave whowere so near, and dependent on me, I

could gladly die and go to Thee. OLord, help me to take faster hold of Thypromises, to believe with my whole heaii;

what Thou sayest. Leave Thy fatherless

children, and I will preserve them alive,

and let your widows trust in me. Like

as a father pitieth his children, so Thou

wilt pity my children. O teach them

PRAYERS FOR THE DYING. 191

from this time to cry unto Thee, my Fa-

ther, Thou art the guide of my youth.

And n:ay the taking away of their earth-

Iv father lead them much better to under-

stand what that meaneth, Our Father,

which art in heaven. Let them never

turn aside from following Thy command-

ments ; or if they wander, O Lord, gra-

ciously search and seek them out, and

bring them back to the fold ; and as

they have been baptized into Thy holy

name, may they walk as children of the

light, and may we meet at last with joy,

and not with grief. O Father of mercies,

look very graciously upon her whom I

must leave, and give her to know, and

to feel, that her Maker is her Husband,

the Lord of Hosts is His name ; and in

Thine own good time may she also come

up out of the wilderness, leaning on her

Beloved. Bless also, O Lord, with Thine

own blessing, my [parents], [brothers],

and [sisters], and all whom 1 would

mention before Thee. I would remem-

])er before Thee our servants, all who

192 PRAYERS FOR THE DYING.

have ministered to me, or been kind to

me, in my sickness, and tlirougkout mylife. If I have enemies, known or un-

known, bless tkem, O Lord. And -bless

Thy Ckurcli here upon earth with unity

and godly love. O my Father, hear me

:

O Jesus, plead Thou for me ; O HolySpirit, make intercession for me, accord-

ing to the will of God. Amen.

VI.

THE RESUEKECTION OP THE BODY—THEGREAT COMFORT IT SHOULD PROVE.

Almighty God, who through Thine

only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our

Lord, hast overcome death, and opened

unto us the gate of everlasting life, grant

that through the grave, the gate of death,

we may pass to our joyful resurrection.

O Lord, Thou hast showed me a mys-

tery, that we shall all be changed ; that

Thou w41t change oui^ vile bodies, and

fashion them according to Thy glorious

PEAYERS FOR THE DYING. 193

body, tLat this very body of mine, wMchday by day becomes more corruptible,

shall put on incorruption.

Each day the weakness sinks deeper

into me, and is sown in me ; and soon

this corn of wheat shall fall into the

ground and die, and yet it shall be

raised in power. O Almighty God, Thyway is past finding out. It is high ; I

cannot attain unto it ; Thou comfoi-test

me with this truth, which I believe with

all my heart, though I cannot compre-

hend it. Lord, what is man, that Thouart mindful of him ; or the son of man,

that Thou visitest him ? I thank Thee,

O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that

my body is crumbling away. I thank

Thee that it soon must be sown in dis-

honor, that it may be raised in glory.

In this body I have sinned against Thee^

each day and each hour that I have

lived, O Lord. I thank Thee that

soon T shall put off this tabernacle,

that it will be sown a natural body, to

be raised a spiritual body, in which I

13

194 PEAYEES FOE THE DYINO.

can never sin against Thee, or grieve

Thee any more. Flesh and blood can-

not inherit the kingdom of God, neither

doth corruption inherit incorruption.

O Lord, I yield my body np to Thee

:

Thou wilt not let it suffer one pain more

than is necessary to lay it in the grave.

Although the temple of this body must be

taken down before it can be rebuilt and

my body must die, yet I know that myRedeemer liveth : and that though after

my skin worms destroy this body, yet in

my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall

see for myself and not another, though

my reins be consumed in me ; because

Christ has risen, and become the first-

fruits of them that slept ; and He has

said that the dead men shall live ; to-

gether with His dead body shall they

arise : and though by man came death,

yet by Christ came also the resurrection

of the dead. O Lord Jesus, I thank

Thee that Thou hast taken away the

PEAYEES FOE THE DYmO. 195

sting of death, and that Thou hast over-

come the sharpness of death, and opened

the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Lord, I believe ; help Thou mine unbe-

lief. Thou hast made me glad, and myflesh shall rest in hope ; not for any

righteousness of mine, O Lord, for I

have sinned, and come short of Thyglory ; but thanks be to God, which

giveth us the victory through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

My Father, I will praise Thee with mywhole heart because Thou hast given methis blessed and holy comfort ; I pray

Thee to grant the same comfort and hope

to all who are sick or dying. May they

be able to look forward in hope, and to

give thanks because their bodies will be

committed to the ground, earth to earth,

ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and

certain hope of the resurrection to eternal

life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grant this, we beseech Thee, O merci-

ful Father, through Jesus Christ, our

Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

196 PRAYERS FOR THE DYINa.

VII.

THANKSGIVING FOR DEATH*

O Lord, life and death are in Thyhands, Thou didst die and hast risen

again, that Thou mightest be Lord of

the dead and of the living.

Blessed be Thy Name, O Lord myGod, for out of judgment hast Thoubrought forth mercy ; out of a curse

hast Thou brought forth a blessing.

Thou makest death acceptable unto

the needy, and unto him whose strength

faileth. The weak look unto Thee, Thougivest them rest ; Thou hearest the cry

of the afflicted, and dost not prolong

their sufferings, for their life is full of

trouble.

The righteous is taken away from the

evil to come ; he shall enter into peace.

For blessed are the dead which die in

the Lord, they rest from their labors, and

their works do follow them.

PRATERS FOR THE DYING. 197

O Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour, myRedeemer, Thou Last sanctified death

and the grave. Thou hast taken awaythe curse of death, and made it the gate

of immortality ; for Thou hast subdued

death, and put it under Thy feet. Thouhast risen from the dead, and become the

first-fruits of them that slept. O death,

where is thy sting ? O grave where is

thy victory? Thanks be to God whogiveth us the victory, through our Lord

Jesus Christ. I will thank Thee, O Lord

my Saviour, I will bless Thy name for

ever. I will thank Thee for my life and

for my death ; for my joy and for mysorrow, for my health and for my sick-

ness. Praised be Thy name, who livest

and reignest with the Father, the Kingof kings, and Lord of lords, who only

hath immortality, dwelling in the light

which no man can approach unto ; whomno man hath seen, nor can see : to whombe honor and power everlasting. Amen.

198 PEAYEES FOE THE DYINa

YIII.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE JOYS OF HEAVEN.

O Lord, I will praise Tliee : though

Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger

is turned away, and Thou comfortest me.

I will praise Thee, O God, for it is a

good thing to sing praises to our God

;

yea, a joyful and a pleasant thing it is to

be thankful. O Lord, Thy love is won-

derful, for Thou hast set before us a hope

full of immortality, an inheritance in-

corruptible, undefiled, which fadeth not

away, reserved in heaven for those whoare kept by Thy power, through faith

unto salvation. Teach me, O Lord, howto praise Thee, for I cannot order myspeech before Thee, by reason of dark-

ness. According to Thine abundant

mercy. Thou hast begotten us again unto

a lively hope, by the resurrection of our

Lord Jesus Christ, whom having not seen

we love, in whom, though now we see

PEAYEKS FOR THE DYING. 199

Him not, yet believing, we rejoice witli

joy unspeakable, and full of glory, re-

ceiving tlie end of our faith, even tlie sal-

vation of our souls. Eye liatli not seen,

nor ear heard, neither have entered into

the heart of man the things w^hich Thouhast prepared for them that love Thee.

Lord, it doth not yet appear w^hat weshall be ; but we know that, when Heshall aj^pear, we shall be like Him, for

we shall see Him as He is, and so shall

we ever be wdth the Lord.

I give Thee hearty thanks, O my Fa-

ther, that Thou hast revealed to us, that

there remaineth a rest for Thy people,

and that Jesus is gone to prepare a j^lace

for us. Whilst I am in this tabernacle,

1 am wearied with the burden of mysin, but there shall be no sin there. OLord, how wonderful to be freed from

sin ! that even I, who am sore let and

hindered in running the heavenly race,

shall one day be faultless before Thythrone, without fear of sinning, or of

grieving Thee any more, for Thou hast

200 PEAYERS FOR THE DYmG.

said, there shall be no more curse. In

Thy love to my soul, Thou hast chast-

ened me with strong pain here, but there

shall be no more pain there. Wearisomenights Thou hast appointed me here, but

there shall be no night there, nothing

shall enter in that delileth ; sorrow and

sighing shall flee away. The inhabitant

shall no more say, I am sick ; the eyes

of the blind shall be opened, and the

ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, the

lame man shall leap as an hart, and the

tongue of the dumb shall sing. Help me,

O Lord, having this hope, to purify my-

self, even as Thou art pure, before Thoudost take me to that way of holiness.

O my Father ! in Thy house are manymansions ; I pi'aise and bless Thee for

the hope, that there I shall meet again so

many of those whom I have loved on

earth, and that we shall go no more out,

for there shall be no more death, neither

sorrow, nor crying : Thou wilt wipe awaytears from off all faces, and they shall

hunger no more, nor thirst any more.

PEAYEES FOR THE DYmG. 201

Thou hast taught me to believe in the

Communion of Saints, and that we are

all members of one body : how joyful it

is to think of that multitude which no

man can number, of all nations, and kin-

dreds, and people, and tongues ; whohave come out of great tribulation, and

have washed their robes, and made them

white in the blood of the Lamb, there-

fore are they before the Throne of God.

O Lord, my flesh is weak, and I amsoon weary of serving Thee here, but

there they shall serve Thee day and

night in Thy temple. These things are

faithful and true. Lord, I believe, help

Thou my unbelief ; and when it pleaseth

Thee, may I enter into that rest, and join

that multitude in saying. Blessing, and

glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,

and honor, and power, be unto our God,

for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYERS

SUITABLE TO BE KEAD TO PEKSONSm THEIR LAST HOURS.

FROM THE SERVICE FOR THE VISITATIONOF THE SICK.

The short Litany.

The third Collect, O most merciful

God.

Verses (occasionally and very slowly

repeated) from the cxxx. Psalm.

O Saviour of the world, &g.

The Almighty Lord, who is a most

strong tower, &c.

Unto God's gracious mercy we commit

thee, &c.

Prayer for a sick child.

Prayer when there appeareth small

hope of recovery.

Commendatory prayer.

204 PEAYEKS SUITABLE FOR PEESONS.

FROM THE BURIAL SERVICE.

Tlie three verses at tlie beginning.

The four sentences wMch begin, Manthat is born of a woman, &c.

Second Prayer.

COLLECTS.

For Advent Sunday.

For Sixth Sunday after The Epiphany,

For Easter Even.

For Easter Day.

For Ascension Day.

For Sunday after Ascension Day.

For Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

For Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.

For Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trin-

ity.

For The Annunciation.

For St. Michael's Day.

For All Saints' Day.

After the Communion Service, Assist

us mercifully, O Lord, &c.

IN THEIE LAST HOURS. 205

The two sentences from the Litany,

beginning, " By Thine agony," <fec., and,

" In all time of our tribulation."

Also the versicles beginning, " Fromour enemies defend us, O Christ."

And the prayer following, " We hum-

bly beseech Thee."

Or some of the following sentences *

may be said.

By Thy faintness and exhaustion,

By Thy houi^s of weakness,

By Thy long hours of woe,

By Thy enduring to the end,

By Thy death of exhaustion.

When laid upon a bed of death,

Blessed Jesus, deliver us.

By Thy fevered fiâme.

By Thy parched lips,

By Thine aching brow.

By Thy failing strength,

* Selected from " Meditations, and a Litany for each

Day in Lent."

206 PEAYEES SUITABLE FOE PEESONS

By Thy looking for deatli,

By Thy victory at last,


By Thy submission to infirmities,

By Thy prayer of humiliation.

By Thy willingness to bear the Cross,

By Thy ever ready succor,

By Thy determination to bear all,

By Thy power to forgive.


By Thine uncomplaining endurance,

By Thy holy resignation.

By Thy patient waiting.

By Thy footsteps which mark the way,

By Thine unchanging love.


By Thy going before us.

By Thy knowledge of our trial,

By Thy bitter agony,

By Thine unknown sufferings.

By Thy patient endurance to the end,

By the love that conquered all for us.


By Thy bursting the chains of death.

By Thy descent into the grave,

m THEIE LAST HOURS. 207

By Tliy victoiy over the grave,

By the way thus opened for us,

By the sting of death overcome.

By Thy glorious resurrection,

Most merciful Jesus, save and deliver

us.

Jesus, my Saviour ! My Redeemer !

Forgive me. Cleanse me. Save me.

Give me patience. Give me strength.

Give me peace.

Keep me in life. Keep me in death.

Keep me in eternity. Through Thy pre-

cious blood,

O Lamb of God.

TEXTS.

SUITED TO BE READ TO DYING PERSONS.

They should be said very slowly, very

distinctly, and with pauses between

;

longer or shorter, according to the state

of the person.

208 TEXTS SUITED TO BE READ

FOR THOSE WHO ARE TROUBLED IN MINDAND AFRAID LEST THEY SHOULD COMESHORT OF THAT REST.

Remember not tlie sins of my youth,

nor my transgressions : according to

Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thygoodness' sake, O Lord. (Ps. xxv. 7.)

He is near that justifieth me ; who will

contend with me 1 let us stand together

:

who is mine adversary? let him come

near to me. Behold the Lord God will

help me ; who is he that shall condemn

me ? (Isa. 1. 8, 9.) Thou shalt answer

for me, O Lord my God. (Ps. xxxviii.

15. p. B.) Come unto me, all ye that

labor and are heavy laden, and I will

give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me, for I am meek, and low-

ly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto

your souls. For my yoke is easy, and

my burden is light. (Matt. xi. 28-30.)

Ps. xxvii. 15, 16. Ps. Ixviii. 18. Ps.

Ixix. 6. Ps. xc. 13-15. Ps. ciii. 8-13.

Ps. cvii. 10, 12, 39. Ps. cxxvi. 4-6. Ps.

TO DYING PERSONS. 209

cxxx. all. Ps. cxlvii. 3. (p. b.) Isa. liv.

7, 8. Isa. lix. 1. Isa. Ixi. 1, 3. Jer.

xiv. 8, 9. Jer. xxxiii. 6. Lam. iii. 22-

27. 32. Dan. ix. 9. Mal. iii. 6. Matt,

vii. 8. Matt. viii. 25, 26. Matt. x. 29-

31. Phil. i. 6. Heb. v. 7. Heb. vi. 19.

Heb. vii. 25. 1 John i. 8, 9. Kev. xxii. 17.

CHRIST JESUS RECEIVES AND PARDONS ALLSINNERS WHO COME TO HIM.

Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for Heshall save His people from their sins.

(Matt. i. 21.)

God so loved the world, that He gave

His only begotten Son, that whosoever

believeth in Him should not perish, but

have everlasting life. (John iii. 16.)

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son

cleanseth us fi'om all sin. (1 John i. 7.)

Him that God exalteth with His right

hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to

give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness

of sins. (Acts v. 31.)

Ps. ciii. 3. Ps. cvii. 2. Ps. cxlv. 8, 9.

Matt. vii. 7. Matt, xviii. 11. Matt.

14

210 TEXTS SUITED TO BE EEAD

xxviii. 18. Luke i. 68. Luke ii. 10, 11,

14. Luke V. 20. Luke xv. 7. Lukexxiii. 42, 43. Jokn i. 29. Jokn vii. 3Y.

Jolin xii. 32. Acts xxvi. 18. 23. Rom.V. 6, 8, 9. Epk. i. 1. 1 Tim. i. 15.

Heb. ix. 14. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. 1 Pet.

ii. 24.

THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

Tke love of Christ constraineth. us, be-

cause we thus judge, that if one died for

all, then were all dead. (2 Cor. v. 14.)

Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his

friends. (John xv. 13.)

Unto Him that loved us, and washed

us from our sins in His own blood.

(Rev. i. 5.)

I am the good Shepherd. The good

Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

(John^. 11.)

Luke xxiii. 34. John iv. 14. John

vii. 37, 38. John x. 1. 21. John xiv.

13. John XV. 9-13. 2 Cor. viii. 9.

Eph. ii. 4, 5. 7. Eph. ii. 13, 14. 16,


Eph. iii. 14-19. Phil. ii. 5, 6. 8, 9, 10,

11. Coloss. i. 21, 22. 24. 2 Thess. ii.

16. Heb. ii. 10. 17. 1 John iii. 1. Kev.

i. 5.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE RESTING IN GODAND AT PEACE.

God is our refuge and strength, a very

present help in trouble. (Ps. xlvi. 1.)

Great is the peace that they have wholove Thy law. (Ps. cxix. 165.)

There is therefore now no condemna-

tion to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh, but after

the Spirit. (Rom. viii. 1.)

Ye have need of patience, that, after ye

have done the will of God, ye might re-

ceive the promise. (Heb. x. 36.)

Deut. xxxii. 4. Deut. xxxiii. 26, 27.

29. Ps. xxxiii. 19. (p. b.) Ps. Iv. 22.

Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, 12. Ps. xci. 1-4. 9. Ps.

cxvi. 7, 8. Ps. cxix. 20. Ps. cxxi. 1-5.

Ps. cxxxi. all. Isa. xii. 2. Isa. xxvi. 3,

212 TEXTS SUITED TO BE EEAD

4. Isa. xxxiii. 24. Isa. xlviii. 10. Isa.

xlix. 13. Mai. iv. 2. John iv. 14.

John XV. 4, 5. 8. Rom. v. i. Rom. viii.

11, IS. 24-32. 1 Cor. iii. 21-23. Eph.

ii. 14-20. Eph. vi. 10-17. Phil. iv. 13.

19. Col. i. 11-14. Heb. ix. 14. 28.

Heb. xii. 1-12. James i. 2. 1 Pet. i. 7,

8. 1 Pet. V. 6, 1. 10. 2 Pet. i. 11.

WHEN DEATH IS VERY NEAR.

He shall drink of the brook in the

way, therefore shall He lift up the head.

(Ps. ex. 7.)

He will swallow up death in victory,

and the Lord God will wipe away tears

from off all faces, and the rebuke of His

people shall He take away from off all

the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it.

(Isa. XXV. 8.)

I am the Resurrection and the Life.

(John xi. 25.)

Who shall change our vile body, that

it may be fashioned like unto His glo-


rious body, according to the working

whereby He is able even to subdue all

things unto Himself. (Phil. iii. 21.)

Deut. ix. i. Josh, xxiii. 14. Ps. xvi.

9-11. Ps. xvii. 15. Ps. xxiii. all. Ps.

xxxi. 5. 15. Ps. xlviii. 14. Ps. Ixxiii.

23-26. Ps. cxvi. 15. Ps. cxliii. 2. Isa.

xxxiii. 17. Isa. xliii. 1-3. Hos. xiii. 14.

Matt. xxvi. 39. Luke ii. 29, 30. LukeXX. 37, 38. Luke xxii. 44. John v. 21.

25. John vi. 48-51. John xii. 27.

John xiv. 1-3. 27. John xvii. 24. Acts

vii. 59. Eom. viii. 18. 33-35. 37-39.

Rom. xvi. 20. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 1 Cor.

XV. 20. 22. 26. 42. 52. 53-55. 57. 2 Cor.

iii. 18. 2 Cor. iv. 10. 16-18. 2 Cor. v.

1-8. Gal. ii. 20. Phil. i. 21. Phil. ii.

8. Col. iii. 1. 3, 4. 1 Thess. iv. 14.

1 Tim. vi. IG, 2 Tim. iv. 8. Tit. ii. 13.

Heb. xii. 22-24. Heb. xiii. 14. 1 Pet.

i. 3-5. Rev. i. 18. Rev. iii. 11, 12. 20.

Rev. xiv. 13.

214 TEXTS SUITED TO RE EEAD

HEAVEN.

The redeemed of tlie Lord shall return

and come with singing unto Zion, and

everlasting joy shall be upon their head

;

they shall obtain gladness and joy, and

sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

(Isa. li. 11.)

The sun shall be no more thy light byday ; neither for brightness shall the

moon give light unto thee : but the Lord

shall be unto thee an everlasting light,

and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall

no more go down ; neither shall thy

moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall

be thine everlasting light, and the days

of thy mourning shall be ended. (Isa.

Ix. 19, 20.)

I heard a great voice out of heaven,

saying. Behold, the tabernacle of God is

with men, and He will dwell with them,

and they shall be His people, and GodHimself shall be with them, and be their

God. And God shall wipe away all

tears from their eyes ; and there shall be


no more death, neither sorrow, nor cry-

ing, neither shall there be any more pain

:

for the former things are passed away.

(Eev. xxi. 3, 4.)

Ps. xxxvi. 8, 9. Isa. xxxiii. 21 to end.

Isa. XXXV. 5 to end. Eev. v. 9-12.

Kev. vii. 9-17. Eev. xii. 10, 11. Eev.

xiv. 1-3. Eev. xv. 3, 4. Eev. xix. 9.

Eev. XX. 11-13. Eev. xxi. 3-7. 22-27.

Eev. xxii. 1-7. 12-14. 20.

THE END.

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